Marco Rubio discusses Greece-Turkey relations and F-35 sales

In an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini published on October 8, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the prospect of a conflict between Greece and Turkey as "unthinkable." He emphasized that the United States is committed to regional stability and will work behind the scenes to prevent crises, particularly regarding the Great Sea Interconnector, an electricity project linking Cyprus and Greece that has faced regional objections.

Addressing the potential acquisition of F-35 fighter jets by Turkey, Rubio noted that President Donald Trump supports the delivery of the aircraft for which Ankara has already paid. However, he clarified that current U.S. legislation strictly prohibits the transfer as long as the dispute over Turkey’s possession of Russian-made S-400 missile systems remains unresolved. This issue originally led to Turkey's removal from the F-35 program.

Separately, discussions in Athens also touched upon the Greek government’s intention to procure advanced missiles for its own F-35 fleet, aiming to reach capabilities comparable to those held by Israel. Washington continues to leverage its diplomatic influence to ensure these bilateral tensions do not escalate further.