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Greek defence minister calls for France provide an explanation for sale of missiles to Turkey

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France and Greece had been sure by means of a defence settlement since 2021 — and in line with Greece, the prospective sale of Meteor missiles to Turkey does now not admire their partnership.

The Greek defence minister, Nikos Dendias, has recommended French ambassador Laurence Auer to give an explanation for a French consortium’s reported plans to promote missiles to Turkey.

In a submit shared on X, Dendias asked “an legitimate replace concerning the sale of Meteor missiles to Turkey by means of a consortium through which France participates”. He added that the deal would run counter to “the very good strategic family members” shared by means of the 2 international locations.

In the meantime, Greek High Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis mentioned “he had no data” in regards to the possible sale of missiles to Turkey, in an interview on Alpha TV Wednesday night.

In September 2021, France and Greece signed the Franco-Greek defence settlement, which incorporates a mutual defence clause in case both birthday celebration is attacked by means of a 3rd nation. The textual content additionally advises each international locations to seek the advice of on choices affecting their safety pursuits “anyplace imaginable”.

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Since January 2021, Greece has bought a complete of 24 Rafale jets produced by means of the French corporate Dassault Aviation, in addition to receiving French frigates.

The Meteor missile programme was once evolved by means of a consortium of Ecu companions led by means of French producer MBDA. The army initiative was once created to be able to meet the wishes of six Ecu countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden.

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Consistent with MBDA’s web page, the Meteor has a “ramjet motor” which permits it to “thrust the entire strategy to goal intercept”. This gives the “greatest No Get away Zone of any air-to-air missile gadget, a number of occasions more than present medium-range air-to-air missiles, with a “fragmentation warhead [that] guarantees most lethality”.

Greece and Turkey is also NATO allies, however they’ve an extended historical past of tensions and flare-ups, and the prospective sale of Meteor missiles to Turkey may spark considerations round an altered regional army stability.

Right through a gathering with Mitsotakis in Would possibly closing 12 months, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned there have been “no unsolvable issues” with Greece. However in a speech given in mid-December, Greece’s Defence Minister Nikos Dendias introduced Turkey was once “regularly increasing its record of calls for towards our hometown”.

“Whilst discussion with Turkey is important, it will have to at all times contain rejecting the unacceptable sides of Turkey’s positions, such because the casus belli risk”, he mentioned.

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