Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly rebuked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a press conference f...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly rebuked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a press conference following the NATO Summit in Ankara, telling reporters that Mitsotakis "should not have made that mistake" by objecting to a potential F-35 sale to Turkey. Erdogan made clear he had no interest in either Mitsotakis's or Israeli PM Netanyahu's opposition to Turkey acquiring the jets. "Neither of those statements has any place in my world," he said. He added that Turkey had never questioned Greece's own weapons purchases, calling Mitsotakis's comments an unnecessary misstep from a neighboring country. On the Aegean, Erdogan struck a notably different tone, saying he fully agrees with Mitsotakis that progress is possible. He said he hopes the two countries' foreign ministers will begin work toward that goal, with the leaders themselves sitting down if needed. Erdogan also doubled down on the "Blue Homeland" doctrine, saying Turkey will continue using that term not only at sea but within its own territory and territorial waters. On the casus belli issue, he suggested most Turkish citizens don't even know what the term means, and called on both sides to drop the issue and come to the negotiating table. On the F-35 deal itself, Erdogan said Trump is favorably disposed toward selling the jets to Turkey and claimed U.S. defense sanctions against Ankara have been largely lifted. "There is no longer an issue of American sanctions," he said, while expressing hope the U.S. would follow through on its commitments. Erdogan also revealed discussions with Trump covered potential naval defense cooperation, including frigates, submarines, and corvettes, as well as F110 engines for Turkey's domestically developed fighter jet. #Greece #Turkey #NATO