Turkey’s Eurofighter Deal Sparks Major Reactions in Israel and Greece

Kokcha News Agency – Turkey signed a preliminary agreement with the UK yesterday for the purchase of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, a move that has sparked widespread reactions in Israeli and Greek media.

Israeli officials, speaking to the Jerusalem Post, described the deal as a “headache” for Tel Aviv. The report highlighted that the deployment of Eurofighters would significantly enhance Turkey’s operational flexibility and regional deterrence.

An Israeli official stated, “This is a clear and concerning signal that Turkey is accelerating its armament, potentially challenging Israel’s military superiority in the region.”

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of failing to block the deal. Lapid said, “If Israel had a functional Foreign Ministry or a normal government, diplomatic efforts would have been made to halt the progress of this arms sale agreement.”

The Greek press, meanwhile, reacted with sharp criticism. Germany had informed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis about the deal in advance. The Greek newspaper Naftemporiki described the situation as “another slap in the face for foreign policy.”

The newspaper wrote, “Ankara is arming itself with the most advanced European fighter jets, while we are left to digest the shock and count our diplomatic ‘leftovers.’” The report continued, “While Erdoğan buys Eurofighters, increases his influence, redraws maps, and convinces Europeans and Americans of his value as a partner, Greece is merely being informed.”

The newspaper also noted that, theoretically, a Eurofighter flying at its maximum speed (2,495 km/h without refueling) could reach Berlin from Ankara in 53 minutes, and directed this criticism at the Greek government: “And what about Greece’s foreign policy? It remains stationary on the runway, waiting for takeoff clearance.”