The United States has given Greece initial approval to acquire advanced weapons systems for its F-35 fighter jets and up...

The United States has given Greece initial approval to acquire advanced weapons systems for its F-35 fighter jets and upgraded F-16 Vipers, a significant shift from Washington's previously cautious stance on Greek air power requests. The breakthrough came following the 6th Greece-US Strategic Dialogue held in Athens on Wednesday. For years, Washington had been reluctant to approve Greek requests for advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground systems, particularly long-range or strategic strike weapons. The change in posture is partly tied to Greece's decision to shop elsewhere, turning to France and Israel to fill the gaps Washington was unwilling to fill. Israel has already supplied Greece with Rampage supersonic missiles and SPICE guidance kits for its upgraded F-16 Vipers, giving the Hellenic Air Force serious ground-attack capability. Greece also acquired Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles from France for its Rafale fleet, a system the UK is currently working to certify for the F-35 as well. The most significant item on the table, according to sources familiar with the talks, is the potential release of the AIM-120D, the latest version of the AMRAAM air-to-air missile, for Greece's F-16s and F-35s. Athens had been seeking US approval for the AIM-120D for years, and the Wednesday strategic dialogue appears to have moved that conversation forward meaningfully. Greece presented US officials with a full list of American-made weapons systems the Hellenic Air Force wants. The initial approval signals Washington may finally be willing to keep Greece as its primary arms partner rather than watch Athens deepen ties with Paris and Tel Aviv. #Greece #HFF #NATO