“Unfortunately, we see that the Greek politicians, who dragged their own people and country to disaster a century ago, are still insisting on the same mistake today,” Erdoğan said. “As we always say, Greece is not our equal or interlocutor in any political, economic or military way. We know the true intention of those, who try to waste our country’s time and energy by using Greece today, as was the case a century ago. The recent developments have demonstrated this fact to everyone in an undeniable clarity. As you know, the radar of a Greek S-300 missile system of Russian origin based on the island of Crete locked on to our F-16 jets, which were conducting a NATO mission in international air space over the Aegean. Radar-locking a country’s aircraft is a hostile act. If this aircraft is conducting a NATO mission, then it means this hostility directly targets NATO with all its members. By escalating its hostile attitude that started with violating our airspace and harassing our planes, Greece challenged not us, but essentially NATO and the allies, if it has that capability or power,” Erdoğan noted.

“We were not going to use the F-35s and the S-400s in the same system”

Stating that the US, which is the most significant force within NATO, supposedly considered it a threat to its own aircraft that Türkiye purchased the S-400 systems completely for its own defensive needs as had been repeatedly expressed, Erdoğan said: “Our said step was encountered with acts, including the non-delivery of the F-35 jets, whose down payment we already made, being subjected to embargoes over defense industry products and even more. We are now curious to see how the US will respond to Greece activating the S-300 systems against a NATO air force. We are now curious to see how the US will respond to Greece activating the S-300 systems against a NATO air force. On top of that, The US offered these F-35s, which they did not give to us, to Greece, and paved the way of putting Russian air defense systems and these jets, which they supposedly treasure, in the same basket. As was promised to the supplier country, we would never use the F-35s and the S-400s in the same system. However, you can rest assured that Greece, which does not know any legal, moral or humanitarian boundaries, will be so reckless.”

Recalling that the US waived any sanctions against India’s procurement of the S-400s, Erdoğan said: “So the issue here is not using Russian air defense systems and American military products together, but actually and specifically Türkiye. They are not giving us the F-35s. They are reacting to the alternative defense systems we purchased. They are imposing embargoes over truly ridiculous matters. Frankly, we do not care about any of them. We have the capability, capacity and determination to produce sooner or later every product they deny us. We are Türkiye. We have accomplished the capability to develop every technology, build every project, and offer every service we need in line with our own vision and goals. Providing the aircraft we demand or supporting us in any matter would only serve as a gesture of friendship towards our country.”

Underscoring that upon the infrastructure we built in the past 20 years, Türkiye reached the level where it could take care of its own needs in all areas, including the defense industry, Erdoğan said: “The rest is all about planning, scaling, developing and producing, which means it is just a matter of time. With this conviction and determination, we will inshallah turn 2023, the centenary of the proclamation of our Republic, into the beginning of a new leap forward that will make the second century of our Republic ‘the Century of Türkiye’.” (ILKHA)