Greek PM hails US approval of F-35 fighter jet sale

(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, JAN 27 - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Saturday welcomed a US decision to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Athens. Ending months of negotiations, the US government on Friday okayed the $8.6-billion sale, as well as a separate $23-billion deal to sell 40 F-16 warplanes to Turkey. "Today is an important day for our national defence and for Greek diplomacy," Mitsotakis said in a statement. "Greece is officially on track to acquire up to 40 new generation F-35 combat planes." Mitsotakis said he had received a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken which "showed the strategic strength of Greek-US relations". In the letter, Blinken said: "Greece has taken remarkable steps to modernize its defense capabilities. I look forward to increasing our cooperation and developing a more robust strategic relationship between our armed forces." (ANSA-AFP).