U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Thursday that President Trump wants F-35 fighter jet deliveries to proceed...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Thursday that President Trump wants F-35 fighter jet deliveries to proceed to Turkey, but American law is currently standing in the way. Speaking to Kathimerini, Rubio said Turkey had already paid for some of the aircraft and that Trump was pushing for deliveries to go forward "if possible." The catch is that U.S. legislation imposes strict conditions Ankara has not yet met. Rubio was direct: "Until those conditions are met, the sale cannot go ahead." Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after it purchased Russia's S-400 missile defense system, triggering sanctions under U.S. law. Rubio acknowledged the Turkish side was aware of the legal restrictions and was actively seeking ways around them. On the broader Greece-Turkey dynamic, Rubio described a military conflict between the two NATO allies as "unthinkable" and said it was "something we could never allow to happen." He said Washington remains in constant contact with Ankara, pointing to Turkey's role in hosting Russia-Ukraine peace talks as evidence of its diplomatic value to the U.S. The interview came just one day after the U.S. and Greece announced a $4 billion military sales package following their strategic dialogue in Athens on October 7. The deal covers F-16 upgrades for Greece along with missiles and precision-guided bombs. Rubio also addressed Greece's request for advanced weapons systems for its own F-35s, including systems that have been supplied to Israel. He said that request remains under review and that Trump will make the final call. On the proposed electricity interconnector between Greece and Cyprus, Rubio said Washington would pursue private diplomacy to remove any obstacles, describing the project as important for diversifying regional energy supplies. #Greece #Turkey #F35