Greece demands France cancels sale of missiles to Turkey

According to reports by the Middle East Monitor a growing diplomatic row has emerged between what are normally strong allies. Greece has put extreme diplomatic pressure on France to immediately halt its sale of brand new MBDA Meteor Missiles to Turkey.

The missiles are radar-guided air to air missiles manufactured in Paris by MBDA, a European arms manufacturer. Turkey wishes to use the missiles potentially equip at least 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets they wish to purchase.

This development is seen as a huge strategic threat and national security concern for Greece. Who fears the missiles may be used by Turkey to challenge their dominance in the air around the eastern Mediterranean. This would endanger the many smaller Greeks islands in the area. 

France’s sale of the missiles is seen as another chapter in the long line of diplomatic disputes between Greece and Turkey. Both countries, which, despite both NATO allies, have had a long history of grievances between each other going back decades.

Addressing the concerns it is reported by Politico both countries leaders had a meeting to discuss the issue. The French President Emmanuel Macron and the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsokatis met on February 10th. This meeting being held alongside the global Artificial Intelligence Action Summit.

A statement released by the French Presidency regarding the meeting, the French President reaffirmed to the Greek Prime Minister France’s commitment to the Franco-Greek strategic partnership, and to Greece’s security.   

In any case the row with France  is one of several other disputes that Greece has with other EU countries. Both Germany and France have also chosen to sign arms deals with Turkey despite Greece’s concerns.

Middle East Monitor, Politico