US refutes Ankara weapon analogy

A US State Department spokesperson explicitly rejected Ankara’s analogy between the S-400 surface-to-air missile system purchased from Russia and the Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. It was kept in Crete by the Greeks.

More specifically, the S-300 presence on Crete made a clear distinction not to fall under the U.S. sanctions regime under the Countering America’s Adversaries under the Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA), said the State Department.

“Greece’s acquisition of the S-300 took place in the 1990s, decades before the CAATSA Act was adopted. We are subject to sanctions,” a State Department spokesperson said in response to a question from the Hellas Journal website.

“We continue to encourage all NATO allies to ensure full interoperability within the alliance,” the spokesperson said.

Turkey claims a Cretan S-300 locked onto a Turkish jet on a reconnaissance mission in international airspace on August 23. Greece denies the accusation.

Regarding Turkey’s allegations, a senior State Department official said Washington was aware of these reports, and the United States urged NATO allies Greece and Turkey to maintain regional peace and security and resolve disputes through diplomacy. He emphasized that he continues to urge them to work together to do so. “We call on all parties to avoid rhetoric or actions that could further escalate tensions,” the official said.

Crete’s S-300 systems were originally purchased by Cyprus in 1997 to trigger a response to a threat from Turkey. Under pressure from Britain and NATO, Cyprus agreed to store it on an island in southern Greece.

Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, who flew an F-16 fighter over the North Aegean on Friday, doubled down on Ankara’s claims that Greek S-300s locked onto Turkish fighter jets.

“We have always responded to Greek rudeness and will continue to do so,” he said.

He condemned Greece’s actions as “extremely hostile and wrong” and called on NATO to take an “objective” position.

“NATO and third countries should also take note of Greece’s actions. We have warned all our allies regarding Greece. is not in line with friendship or alliance,” he said.