US Secretary of State calls Greek-Turkish clash in the Aegean or Cyprus "unthinkable"
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a war between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean or Cyprus could not happen, stressing that both are NATO allies and that the United States would work behind the scenes to defuse any crisis.
During a conversation with Alex Papachelas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the idea of an armed clash between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea or over Cyprus as "unthinkable" and harmful to all parties, including NATO allies. He emphasized that the United States would act behind the scenes, using diplomatic efforts to highlight the importance of stability and to prevent escalation linked to the Cyprus cable dispute.
Rubio pointed out that Turkey seeks to acquire F-35 fighters, but U.S. law prevents delivery of aircraft already paid for until the S-400 missile system issue is resolved. Regarding Greece's request for specific armaments for its F-35 program, Rubio said no official response has been given and the final decision lies with President Donald Trump. He underscored the need for private, quiet diplomacy rather than public media battles, citing multiple international commitments that must be upheld.
Why it matters
The statement signals U.S. commitment to preventing a NATO-allied conflict that could destabilize the Eastern Mediterranean.
In this story
Related stories
2 in this thread