Greece and Turkey have reaffirmed their opposition to transferring their strategic Russian air defense missile systems to Ukraine or any other country. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that Greece would not be sending its aging S-300 missiles to Ukraine, despite previous considerations. Turkey’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler also rejected the idea of transferring the more modern Turkish S-400 Triumf system to any other country. Both countries have faced pressure from the EU to support Ukraine with their air defense systems.
Greece’s S-300 missiles were initially intended for Cyprus but were moved to Crete in the late 1990s due to threats from Turkey. Turkey, on the other hand, purchased its S-400 system directly from Russia in 2019 despite warnings from the US, resulting in sanctions and removal from the F-35 program. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated that they have no intention of giving up the Russian system, despite the possibility of rejoining the F-35 program if the S-400 issue is resolved.
US officials have warned Turkey against activating the S-400 system and have stated that the only resolution is the removal of the entire system and all its components from Turkish soil. Turkey has shown no intention of complying with these demands. Despite Turkey’s objections to Greece possessing S-300s without sanctions, the US stated that Greece acquired the system before the sanctions legislation was in place. An unconfirmed report suggested that the US vetoed Greece’s attempt to upgrade its S-300s to the PMU-2 configuration in 2020.
Greece has faced criticism for refusing to send S-300s to Ukraine, especially given tensions with Turkey have diminished. Turkey has not yet put its S-400 system into service or test-fired it, despite spending over $2.5 billion on the purchase. There are reports that Turkey plans to deploy the system on its border with Iraq ahead of an offensive against the PKK. Greece has approximately 175 missiles for its 32 launchers, while Turkey has acquired over 120 long-range missiles with its two S-400 battalions.
The continued possession of advanced Russian missile systems by NATO members Greece and Turkey is unusual, especially since they were never part of the Warsaw Pact. Mitsotakis and Guler’s recent statements reaffirming their opposition to transferring the systems indicate that these issues are likely to remain in the spotlight. With Greece planning to keep its S-300s on Crete and Turkey standing firm on its procurement of the S-400, the debate over these missile systems is likely to continue making headlines in the future.
In conclusion, Greece and Turkey have reiterated their refusal to transfer their Russian air defense missile systems to Ukraine or any other country. The differing positions of the two countries regarding their missile systems, as well as the geopolitical implications, have sparked debate and criticism. The ongoing saga surrounding the S-300 and S-400 systems in the hands of these NATO members highlights the complexities of international relations and arms deals in the modern era.
