US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who visited Athens, the capital of Greece, yesterday, made evaluations about the international agenda in his interview with Kathimerini newspaper.
Rubio pointed out that the USA works together with NATO member Türkiye on many issues. Reminding that Türkiye hosted negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the past, Rubio said, "It is a relationship in which we invested in the past. Maybe this investment will help us in these negotiations. If you want to make a statement on such issues, you can, but if you want to achieve a solution, it is best to do it directly within the boundaries of private negotiations." he said.
On the question of whether the USA would intervene in the event of a problem in the Aegean or Cyprus, Rubio said, "For me, it would be inconceivable for such a thing to happen. These two countries are NATO allies and NATO partners. This is not possible. It would not be good for anyone. Neither for Greece nor for Turkey. It would not be good for the USA either. Therefore, rather than think about it, I would say that this is something we will never allow to happen. I do not believe (such a thing) will happen." made his assessment.
While answering the question about the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, US Secretary of State Rubio explained his views on this issue as follows:
"Article 1: Turkey is a member of NATO. Article 2: The President (Trump) stated that he wants to provide them with this if possible. They have already paid for some of them. Obviously, these planes are years and years away from being delivered, but there are two (ready) that have already been paid for, but there is also a law passed by the US Congress. Also, the National Defense Authorization Act has a provision that imposes very strict conditions, so obviously this sale cannot take place until these conditions are met. This situation has also been conveyed to the Turkish side. They are aware of this, I think that's why "They are looking for a solution. The issue is about the S-400 system. Therefore, as of now, this problem has not been solved and we cannot legally make this delivery until this problem is solved. Maybe it will be solved, there are various options, but it is not solved as of now."
REGIONAL ISSUES
Commenting on the cooperation between Israel and Greece as a "positive" development in the region, Rubio commented that the main issue is to establish good relations with the countries in the Middle East that do not have good relations with Israel.
Emphasizing that Iran's possession of nuclear weapons is unacceptable for the United States, Rubio said, "President Donald Trump would never allow such a thing, that's why he destroyed their missile program. That's why he's going after their unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) making program. That's why he destroyed their navy and air power." he said.
Rubio stated that Iran is under economic pressure due to its inability to extract oil from the Middle East and that this pressure may grow further in the coming weeks, adding, "We will see the finale in a few weeks. They will face the most devastating economic disaster in modern Iranian history." made his assessment.
Underlining that the USA is ready to play a constructive role in the Ukraine issue, Rubio said, "We are watching (the developments) with concern that the tension will rise. Some ships have just been attacked by a coordinated UAV in the Black Sea. We are worried about a sabotage operation that could get out of control in the neighboring country." he said.
WEAPON SALES TO GREECE
US Secretary of State Rubio stated that no official response has yet been given regarding the weapon systems that Greece wants to acquire for F-35 warplanes, and that the issue is at the evaluation stage.
GREECE-GCASC-ISRAEL ELECTRICITY LINE PROJECT
Pointing out that the importance of energy diversity has become more evident in the world recently, Rubio also noted the following regarding the power line project (GSI) between Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) and Israel:
"We are aware that there are some potential obstacles and some problems that lie ahead. We intend to use our diplomatic efforts to remind all parties why this issue is so important to us. I also hope that solutions will be found. As I said at the press conference (yesterday), it is not best for some of these issues to be handled through the media or official statements. It is best to do it within a diplomatic framework, with confidentiality and calm. This is important because we need to prioritize obligations from more than one country."
