Greece sings a military contract with an American company specialized in air fleet

The Defense Ministry’s procurement agency said that the contract with the US giant Lockheed Martin required that Athena fleet of F-16 fighters be substantially modernized over the next seven years.

Earlier this month, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos told parliament that there was a plan to modernize 84 such fighters that would serve in the country's army to the advanced Viper level until 2027, in a program estimated at 1.5 billion dollars.

The State Department approved the deal, noting that it serves to enhance the security of an important ally of the United States within NATO, in terms of ensuring political stability and economic growth in Europe.

The agency noted that Athens, after reducing defense spending in the past decade, has in recent years taken the initiative to expand defense ties with the United States, fearing a possible conflict with Turkey in light of the escalating differences between the two countries.

This comes against the background of Greece's strong opposition to Turkey's plans to send forces to Libya to support the internationally recognized National Accord Government in Tripoli, in the face of the progress of the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Hifter towards the capital, Tripoli.

J.O