Dear Secretary Blinken: 

We are writing to express our concern over the Biden Administration’s approach to F-35 sales to Greece.  As American citizens who have worked to strengthen the U.S.-Greece bilateral relationship, we are disappointed by the unreasonable and unjustifiable delay in completing this sale.  Any further delay risks unnecessary tensions with not only the Greek government, but the people of Greece.  

We are approaching the one-year anniversary since the State Department notified Congress of the potential F-35 sale to Greece.  Shortly thereafter, during the Fourth US-Greece Strategic Dialogue, you issued a joint statement proclaiming “Both parties highlighted Greece’s military modernization efforts and looked forward to continued cooperation on the procurement of defense articles such as F-35s. . .(emphasis mine).”  During your visit to Athens, you yourself noted in an interview with MEGA: “And in addition, of course, Greece is looking to acquire the F-35, something that we support.”

In June, the final required Congressional approval at this stage of the process – that of Senator James Risch –was secured.  In September, when several Greek-American organizations met with the leadership of the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, those officials indicated that the approval of the F-35 sale would be approved in a matter of a “few weeks”.

We are disheartened by the perception that the Administration is taking Greece’s reliability and fidelity as an ally for granted. To hold the deepening U.S.-Greece relationship hostage to the dysfunctional relationship with Turkey cannot continue.  Greece’s acquisition of F-35s strengthens NATO by enhancing the capabilities of an ally that has resolutely stood against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.  Furthermore, Greece’s geostrategic and diplomatic importance for the Western alliance has become even more critical because of the conflict to Greece’s south in Gaza.  Turkey’s failure to secure Congressional approval for F-16 purchases is a result of the exact opposite behavior; Ankara has increasingly cooperated with and provided political and economic cover for Moscow,  contributes more to discord than to unity within NATO, and has emerged as a top sponsor and apologist for Hamas.

At a time when debates in Washington are raising questions in Europe over U.S. leadership, we must avoid similar doubts from arising in Greek public opinion.  We must take every step to improve a bilateral relationship that is consistently described as “the best ever”.  It is time for this relationship to take the next step; please finalize the F-35 sale immediately.