The US Congress sent a clear message to Turkey that a NATO member-state should not carry out overflights against another member of the Alliance. The message was sent in the explanatory text of the Fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which, however, did not include an amendment to …
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US Senate drops amendments restricting F-16 sale to Turkey
Two amendments introduced by Democratic Senators Bob Menendez and Chris van Hollen restricting the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey have been dropped from the Senate version of the annual US defense spending bill. The Senate formally kicked off debate Tuesday on the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), …
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U.S. House backs measure that would restrict sale of F-16s to Turkey
The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would create a new hurdle for President Joe Biden’s plan to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. The House approved the measure, offered by Democratic Representatives Frank Pallone and Chris Pappas, as an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization …
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US lawmakers table amendment to block sale of F-16s to Turkey
A bipartisan group of US legislators have filed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would prevent the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey if Ankara continues its territorial overflights and air space violations in the Aegean. The amendment was submitted to Congress at the initiative of …
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Biden thanks Erdogan, says he will resolve the F-16 issue
The Biden administration threw its support behind the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, a day after Ankara lifted a veto of NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, and while US president Joe Biden was holding a meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking at a briefing …
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Iran seizes 2 Greek tankers in retaliation; Athens speaks of “piracy”
Iran has seized two Greece-owned and -flagged oil tankers in retaliation for Iranian oil seized off Greece earlier by US authorities state broadcaster ERT reported early Friday evening. The tankers were approached by helicopters and members of the Iranian military have boarded on the tankers, the report noted. Prompt was …
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Erdogan: “For me there is no Mitsotakis, I will never meet with him again”
“For me, there is no Mitsotakis. I will never meet with him again,” an obviously fuming Turkish President saod on Monday. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he has no intention of ever meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis again, following the latter’s criticism of Turkey during his visit to the …
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New US Ambassador George Tsunis presents his credentials to President Sakellaropoulou
The new Ambassador of the United States of America to Greece, George James Tsunis, presented his credentials to the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday morning. During a short conversation with the President, Tsunis said he was touched that he has returned to …
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US Senate approves George Tsunis as new ambassador to Greece
The US Senate has confirmed the appointment of George Tsunis as the new US Ambassador to Greece. 54-year-old Tsunis is a Greek-American lawyer and businessman with extensive experience in the tourism industry. He is the founder and CEO of the Chartwell Hotels group. This company has a strong presence in …
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47 trafficked artifacts from Steinhardt Collection, 8 prehistoric works handed over to Greece
Fifty-five archaeological artifacts of high artistic, historical and symbolic value were handed over to Culture Minister Lina Mendoni in a special ceremony held in the USA on Wednesday. It was the Attorney General of Manhattan Alvin Bragg who handed over the artifacts. Among them were 47 antiquities from the M. …
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US State Dept: No question about Greek sovereignty over Aegean islands
The sovereignty of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea is not in question, the US State Department noted in response to recent statements by Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. In a response to a related query by the Hellas Journalwebsite, a spokesperson of the US State Department clarified …
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USAFE F-15E lands safely in Larissa after losing canopy during flight
An USAFE F-15E fighter jet was able to land safely at the Larissa Air Base in central Greece after a mishap during a NATO exercise dubbed Operation Castle Ford. According to local media, the F-15E lost its canopy over an unpopulated area of Kozani, western Macedonia and sought permission for …
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US Embassy launches campaign to commemorate Greece’s War of Independence 1821
How did the American Revolution influenced the Greek Revolution of 1821? What was the relation between scholar Adamantios Korais and Dounding Father and third President Thomas Jefferson? What is the explanation for Philellenism in the USA? These and other issues are contained in the yearlong campaign the US embassy in …
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US Congress approves bill that sanctions Turkey over Russian S-400
U.S. Senate approved on Friday with 84-13 votes the 2021 NDAA bill that imposes mandatory sanctions on Turkey for its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air missile defense system as required under existing U.S. law, the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The bill also strengthens U.S.-Greece defense cooperation …
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US Army kicks off live-fire Patriot drills in Greece with three NATO allies
U.S. soldiers are operating German Patriot missile systems in Greece alongside three allied nations as part of a two-week exercise focused on defending NATO’s eastern flank. About 250 troops from the U.S., Germany, Greece and the Netherlands are taking part in the air defense operations at NATO’s firing range on …
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US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo to visit Greece
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Greece next weekend, September 27-28, media report on Sunday. The visit is of high political importance due to the developments in the Greek-Turkish relations. Pompeo will reportedly speak at a conference in Thessaloniki. On Sunday, he will visit the Naval base of …
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Eight Greek F-16 escort two US B-52 within FIR Athens and Nicosia
Eight Greek fighter jets F16 escorted two US bombers B-52 within the FIR of Athens and Nicosia on Wednesday, the Greek General Staff announced. The escort took place at the request USEUCOM, the US European Command. The two strategic bombers were accompanied by four pairs of F-16 aircraft during their …
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US State Department includes Greece to Level 3 risk countries
The US State Department issued an emergency advisory for travelers urging them to avoid non-essential travel to Greece due to coronavirus. It calls on high risk groups to avoid even essential travels to Greece. The instruction follows the directive by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that calls on …
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Turkey-Libya deal, drilling activities are “counterproductive” says US State Dept.
Turkey’s drilling activities, combined with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Libya are are “counterproductive” and do not contribute to the stability and security of the Eastern Mediterranean, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Palmer said on Wednesday at a teleconference with Greek …
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EU decides on 14+1 “safe” countries allowed to the bloc on July 1
The European Union decides on Saturday on a list of 14+1 countries outside the block whose citizens will be allowed to enter EU on July 1.The countries reportedly fulfill the epidemiological criteria with infections to be at the average EU level or even lower. Among them are Australia, Japan, Canada …
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