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“Family” photo from exercise “Medusa 10” carried out in Alexandria, Egypt, against the backdrop of an Egyptian helicopter. This particular ship, “Mistral” class, is of French shipbuilding and was to be delivered (along with another of the same type) to Russia. Due to the events in Crimea in 2015 and the embargo that followed, Paris canceled the deal. The two “Mistrals” were eventually bought by Egypt. (Photo: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ / STR)
In accordance with the decision on an arms export embargo that Turkey could use to strike blows at EU member states. will insist next Thursday, at the planned European Council, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Athens’ main target is German-made T-214 submarines, six of which are being built on behalf of Ankara. Messages on this issue have been repeatedly sent at the highest level from Athens to Berlin, including during the recent visit of Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias to Germany. For Athens, reservations on suspensions of large arms exports to Turkey from countries like germany and Spain, are completely unjustified, since similar contract breaks have been recorded in the past.
There is a recorded precedent for the two French “Mistral-class” shipbuilding and technology helicopters, which were ordered by Russia in 2010, but their delivery was canceled in 2015 due to the annexation of Crimea. At the time, the two ships built in Saint-Nazaire, France, were never delivered to Russia, although they were specially designed to accommodate some Russian systems. In the end, the ships (worth 1,200 million euros) did not stay in France, since they were bought, by agreement, by Egypt, which included them in its Navy, even buying some helicopters from Russia. This means that it is completely within the reach of Germany to stop the export of T-214 submarines to Turkey, and in order not to suffer industrial damage, to sell what has been built in another country, which will not be difficult. , given the added value of this particular anaerobic propulsion system. After all, in 2014, due to the annexation of Crimea, Germany had decided to withdraw its offer to supply Russia with a system of battle simulators worth 120 million euros.
This precedent, of course, can be used for the Spanish-made Anantolu helicopter carrier, which is built in Istanbul, and Madrid has provided Ankara with all its knowledge. Spain’s objections to some kind of serious decisions against the Turkish provocation are based, of course, on the report of its economy, but in general it is not understood even under these conditions. According to the authoritative al-monitor.com, the Netherlands, the country with the longest and oldest (since the 1940s) investments in Turkey (more than 30 billion dollars), with the presence of giants such as Unilever, Shell, Philips and ING They are among the proponents of a more urgent EU position. against Ankara. The recent decision by Congress to legislate sanctions against Turkey for Russian S-400 missiles can also be used as an argument to invalidate the excuses of some European partners.
According to government sources, Mr. Mitsotakis will highlight the issue of arms exports as an important strategic and ethical issue. He stressed that weapons systems such as the T-214 submarine or the Spanish helicopter carrier are changing the balance of power, and there is a question of moral order, because Turkey will use them to promote the doctrine of the “Blue Homeland”, which aims to main the reduction of the sovereign rights of Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. Mr. Mitsotakis has discussed these issues with the President of France, Emanuel Macron, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Haiko Maas, while also raising them during his recent communication with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. The Prime Minister will, of course, call for implementation of the decisions of the European Council of 1 and 2 October, focusing on the issue of the arms embargo.
As for the essence of the problem, that is, whether it is possible to repeat exploratory contacts, Athens has made it clear that this cannot be done before January 2021, with a visible distance from Turkey’s challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean. A two-month moratorium is considered realistic, in contrast to proposals to wait one year. Of course, as seen at the recent NATO Summit, Turkey continues to move aggressively, while only on Friday it launched NAVTEX for live-fire exercises to take place on December 9-10 in the international waters between Rhodes and Kastellorizo. Under normal circumstances, such a NAVTEX would not even make the news, but in a period of supposed de-escalation it is another example of Ankara’s inability to play a constructive role.
Arleigh Burke puzzle
In addition to this intense diplomatic effort, Athens has embarked on a struggle to promote a range of equipment absolutely necessary for the revitalization of the Armed Forces. As revealed by “K” on Wednesday, Athens for the first time at the political (and not military, technocratic) level will request from the United States, as an intermediate solution ship, an “Arleigh Burke” type destroyer. The number does not matter much, since, in case of a positive response, such a destroyer requires a crew of 300 to 350 people, that is, approximately the size of two “S” type frigates. In recent years, that possibility has been extremely difficult, as the United States Navy was working on a target fleet of 355 ships, which made the concession of the “Arleigh Burke” or even older “Ticonderoga” cruises was extremely difficult. However, there are also processes in the United States. At a Defense Forum event in Washington last Thursday attended by “K”, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) of the United States Navy, Michael Gildey, made some interesting comments about the future “architecture” of the United States Navy. First he pointed out that “we cannot afford a Navy of more than 306 to 310 ships, depending on the composition of the fleet we have today.” Gildey stressed that the new US fleet needed more submarines, fewer large surface units, more small units, more unmanned ships, more supply ships, and “a mix for the new amphibious fleet.” Mr. Gildey made it clear that he would replace older and larger surface-to-air units with unmanned craft, noting that the “next DDG” (the American term for “Arleigh Burke”) should arrive within a decade. Although these discussions are still premature, there are two facts: Arleigh Burke’s production line will be completed in 2028 and in the meantime that of the successor surface ship to the US Navy will have started. In the US, Athens will consider any submitted proposals, including the new French for the “[email protected]”, The German (A200) but also the British (type 31 with type 23 intermediate solution).
Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia
At the same time, the key figure being the Minister of National Defense Nikos Panayotopoulos, the talks with Egypt and Saudi Arabia are advancing. This week, Mr. Panagiotopoulos will visit Riyadh, where the transfer of a “Patriot” artillery from the Air Force to Saudi Arabia will be finalized and discussions will be held to expand cooperation. Already in the contacts that Mr. Panayotopoulos had with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, it was agreed to deepen industrial and defense cooperation. In fact, the only thing missing to establish a close defense, industrial cooperation not only with Egypt but also with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is a solid and functional ODA. Talks with Israel on a series of agreements are also expected to end in the next period. This is the International Aviation Training Center in Kalamata, but also individual programs, which include UAV systems and two types of missiles: the Spike NLOS anti-tank and the air-to-ground Rampage.
