The defense industry analyst Arda Mevlutoglou spoke to the Turkish channel TRT News, according to the website yeniakit.com.tr. There, among other things, he was asked to comment on Greece's equipment, but also our relationship with the Americans.
Since 1947, the US has been "working" on its treacherous plan in favor of the Greeks - 7/10 the ratio in armaments!
In particular, he says, both countries equipped their armed forces almost entirely with American military aid after becoming members of NATO in 1952.
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The United States followed certain criteria in the tools, weapons, and financial aid it provided to Turkey and Greece, taking into account the regional rivalry between these two countries. The same or equivalent weapons were delivered to both sides within certain numerical limits.
The 7 to 10 ratio
He gives an example of this situation specifically for aviation and points out:
Both countries possessed the F-104 Starfighter, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-4E Phantom II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, around the same time.
It is no secret that the US maintains a balance known as the "7/10 ratio" in providing arms to Turkey and Greece. This analogy came to the fore when the Prime Minister of Greece at the time, Konstantinos Karamanlis, identified and compared the amount of military aid given to both countries since 1947.
After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974
Arda Mevloutoglou recalls that Karamanlis from the Peace Operation in Cyprus in 1974 (note Turkish military invasion of the northern part of Cyprus) put this percentage on the table as a negotiating element.
He reminds us that this was made concrete with the document "Principles for Future United States-Greece Defense Cooperation" published on April 15, 1976 as a result of intense diplomatic pressure.
Turkey reacted to this situation, but the 7/10 ratio continued in practice, he continues.
As a result of Turkey's re-establishment of its defense industry since the early 1980s and the development of its production capacity, especially since the 1990s, the military aid it received from the US declined rapidly. As a result, the aforementioned balance was no longer applicable in practice.
Why Turkish-American relations worsened - Greece took advantage of it
However, Turkish-American relations have deteriorated rapidly in recent years due to issues such as the PYD/PKK, in the Eastern Mediterranean, the S-400s and F-35s, and the FETO leader.
In this process of deterioration, Greece rapidly developed its relations with regional actors such as Israel, Egypt, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and extra-regional major powers such as the US-France, making good use of the windows of opportunity created by the regional security issues.
Washington-Athens military cooperation has strengthened under the Trump administration. Greece has become the main partner of the US in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
The reflection of this situation in aviation can be measured by the modernization of Greek F-16s to the level of F-16V, armed reconnaissance helicopters OH-58D, positive signals for the supply of F-35, increased joint exercises and trainings.
Why the Turkish threats do not deter it – Greece started arming itself after the Imian crisis
Some circles argue that Greece cannot immediately risk a long-term heated conflict with Turkey, but that it will be the first to fire in an appropriate environment and then maintain its current position with US, EU and NATO intervention.
Under these environmental conditions and in the next 5-7 years, Greece will try to save maximum damage, which may be short-lived, relying on its strong military and political relations with the West and its modernized naval and air power.
I see great danger that he dares a scenario in which he can make good looks offensive or criminal on the international stage.
Mevloutoglou opens the issue of "Greece, on the brink of bankruptcy", bailed out with the support of the European Union in 2011, which we all know intimately. It reminds us that after the Imia Crisis of 1996, Greece carried out a very intense and spectacular armament program, abusing the economic opportunities provided by the EU.
In this madness, which lasted until the early 2000s, he procured large amounts of weapons and equipment from the US, Germany and France.
However, purchasing these systems has put a huge strain on the budget and the already chronic maintenance problems have increased. We see a similar situation in the armament activities that have been followed in recent years, says Mevlutoglu.
Although the cost of financing the "initial purchase" is low with the help of the political situation, he warns that the maintenance and logistics costs of the systems being procured will put a heavy burden on the Greek economy in the long run. He adds that Athens has entered a new vicious circle and has further increased its dependence on abroad.
