Athens is assessing the NATO Summit’s outcomes in light of Greek national interests — a summit that began with Donald Trump’s promise to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to lift CAATSA sanctions, thereby opening the door for Turkey’s acquisition of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, and ended just yesterday with Trump walking back that pledge. Speaking shortly before departing Turkey, the U.S. president stated plainly: “We have to decide to whom we will actually deliver these aircraft.” He added: “Whether we proceed with this remains undecided.”
A Sudden Policy Reversal Within 24 Hours
Diplomatic sources in Athens suggest Trump received urgent counsel from senior, trusted advisors urging him to issue corrective statements. Beyond strategic concerns — namely whether arming Turkey with F-35s aligns with broader U.S. national security goals — there’s also strong congressional resistance. Even Republican senators from Trump’s own political camp reportedly voiced strong objections.
Two Legal Barriers Stand in the Way
Even if Trump found a way to waive or circumvent the existing U.S. federal law — the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), currently applied to Turkey due to its purchase and deployment of Russia’s S-400 air defense system — another legal hurdle remains.
As explained by Angelos Syrigos, professor of International Law and Foreign Policy and New Democracy MP, a second U.S. law acts as a protective shield for Greece. This law stipulates that for Turkey to re-enter the F-35 program, the U.S. Departments of Defense and State must jointly submit a formal letter to Congress. That letter must certify — following an on-the-ground inspection by U.S. technical experts — that Turkey no longer possesses the S-400 or any other Russian defense systems, and that such systems will not return to Turkish soil.
“To remove the S-400s from Turkey, Russia’s consent is required — as the original seller — regarding the identity of the next buyer,” Syrigos pointed out. “Given Russia’s adversarial stance toward NATO, why would it facilitate a NATO member?”
Mitsotakis’ Message to Trump
Earlier yesterday — even before the NATO Summit officially opened — Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a clear message, addressed formally to the Alliance but aimed squarely at the U.S. president: Turkey has declared a casus belli against Greece should Athens exercise its legal right to extend its territorial waters. “At a time when my country faces a declaration of war from Turkey over our lawful extension of maritime zones, I believe it must be clear that the sensitivities of all NATO members must be taken into account,” Mitsotakis stated.