I legami di difesa in espansione della Turchia con la Spagna e l’Italia sono diventati un punto focale di preoccupazione per la Grecia

Turkey’s expanding defense ties with Spain and Italy have become a focal point of concern for Greece, as Ankara deepens cooperation with two of Europe’s southern powers while maintaining disputes with EU member-states.

Ankara has built long-standing relations with Madrid, culminating in the joint design of a 300-meter national aircraft carrier, known as MUGEM. The project signals a shift in Turkish naval doctrine toward projecting power far from its shores. Turkey’s helicopter carrier Anadolu was modeled on Spain’s Juan Carlos.

Spain has further demonstrated support by agreeing to delay its own Eurofighter jet deliveries so Turkey can receive 40 aircraft sooner, including 28 new models and 12 secondhand from Oman and Qatar. Spanish factories also underpin Ankara’s fleet of Airbus transport aircraft, while joint ventures extend to helicopters, satellites, and training planes.

Italy’s ties are equally deep. In June, Turkish drone giant Baykar acquired Piaggio Aerospace, securing UAV technology and market access. Baykar also signed a joint venture with Leonardo to develop drones for Europe’s expanding UAV market. Other deals link Turkish firms with Italian companies such as Beretta, MES, and Magnaghi Aerospace for small arms, heavy munitions, and aircraft parts. Co-production arrangements span helicopters, naval patrol planes, and satellites, while Turkey has supplied Italy with missiles. Cooperation also extends beyond defense, with Ankara and Rome coordinating closely in Libya and Madrid aligning with Turkey on Middle East policy. 

The breadth of programs underscores the strategic weight Spain and Italy attach to ties with Turkey, despite Ankara’s ongoing threats against Greece and Cyprus. 

TBH, the biggest thing by far between Italy and Turkey is Baykar buying Piaggio Aerospace, a private company that had been under public administration for years after the previous ownership pulled the plug on the money and was almost bankrupt. For a long time the Italian governments tried to sell this company, and anyone could have bought it. Many offers were hinted at but at the end of the day evidently the Turkish offer won. There wasn’t much more to be done (based on what we know publicly, of course), and the consequences have been pretty linear and straightforward from there.

Meh. It’s just the Greek being paranoid again.

I’m just glad that the backstabbing Americans are not involved. At least these products won’t be subject to the usual blackmail and coercion.

In the end Greece needs more than EU politicking as a counter offer but they simply can’t today and won’t be able to in the future. Greece is simply too small economically and is spending too much of its budget on military already. Much of it goes to personnel as with most militaries (NATO releases yearly reports about NATO members spending) but their R&D and maintenance are quite underfunded whilst they can only do sporadic big purchases. They can’t outbid Turkey.

Quite the [difference in tone](https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1267036/closer-french-greek-defense-ties-seen/)