– Joe Biden is sending weapons to Greece, which is then sending its own to Ukraine.
– Greece is reported to have missile-defense systems vital for Ukraine.
– Republicans in Congress are blocking a large Ukraine aid bill.
Joe Biden appears to have found a way around the Republican Party’s blockade of Ukraine aid using a little-known presidential power.
In a letter to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, reported by Greek media, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would send Greece a batch of weapons and equipment free of charge under the Excess Defense Articles law.
The rule states that the US president can authorize the transfer of weapons deemed to be surplus to US requirements to other countries for little or no money.
Under the deal, the US will send Greece two C-130H aircraft, 60 Bradley armored fighting vehicles, 10 engines for P-3 patrol planes, three Protector-class ships, and a consignment of transport trucks. That’s in addition to selling Greece a fleet of 40 F-35 fighter jets for $8 billion.
But as a condition of the transfer, Blinken said, Greece should explore ways of providing weapons from its own arsenal to Ukraine, with Greek daily Kathimerini reporting that Greek military leaders have privately agreed to do so.
“We continue to be interested in the defense capabilities that Greece could transfer or sell to Ukraine,” Blinken writes, and dangled the prospect of new, lucrative weapons deals if Athens agrees.
“If these capabilities are of interest to Ukraine, and pending an assessment of their status and value by the US government, we can explore opportunities for possible additional Foreign Armed Forces Financing of up to $200 million for Greece.”
According to the report, Greece has weapons such as the S-300 missile-defense systems and Hawk surface-to-air missiles that would prove valuable to Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Kurt Volker, a former US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, wrote for the European Center for Policy Analysis recently that the Excess Defense Articles law was one of a number of tools available to Biden to keep weapons to Ukraine flowing.
But, said Volker, “none of these are ideal,” and the best way to get Ukraine the support it requires is to pass a new Ukraine aid bill.
“These improvisations will not produce enough equipment or money to sustain Ukraine’s war effort,” noted Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, of the Excess Defense Articles law and related measures, though can help plug equipment shortages.
To deal comes as Republicans in the House of Representatives continue to block a $66 billion aid package to Ukraine, amid partisan squabbling over linked border security measures.
The value of weapons that can be transferred under the Excess Defense Articles law is capped at $500 million.
According to reports, Ukraine is running low on vital supplies of ammunition and equipment as it battles a Russian offensive.
It is amazing how Biden continues to make things happen against so many odds, unlike Trump who is the forever victim, blaming his failures on others.
The Repubs might say he’s senile, but maybe Gramps is quite a bit smarter than he lets on. I have to give him credit for this scheme and I hope there’s more where that came from.
I didn’t like Biden at first but I also knew trump was a direct threat to the United States. Seeing this now I’ll admit I was wrong about Biden. This isn’t the first time he’s figured out a way around the bs to help Ukraine. He has earned my respect. Something few politicians have done.
Wouldn’t call that overcoming. This works only for some specific weapons at availability. It’s not scalable, and it does not necessarily work for providing the weapons that are needed.
Ahh yes, the usual BusinessInsider clickbait garbage
They are indirectly supporting Ukraine by selling F-35s to Greece, something which would have likely happened regardless of the war. Greece can now feel more comfortable parting with the S-300 SAMs they own, but it’s unclear what sort of timeframe that might be *if* the did so. Greece won’t have these planes for years
People in general, both moderates and progressives, love to go out of their way and bend over backwards to make sure people know they dont “like” Biden in one way or another…obviously if you’re a MAGA nutjob conservative you’re required to hate Biden by the Orange shitstain….
…but however you look at it President Biden is effective and just does the job the best anyone can at this point. Who gives a shit if he’s not what everyone hopes for in a leader….leaders rarely *are* that.
I’m not American, and I don’t understand how the Republicans who used to be so anti Russian won’t take this opportunity to give Ukraine what they need to give Russia a bloody nose?
Not only that, but they love defense contractors, and this war has shown how much more effective Western equipment is, and they should be excited to see all these factories pumping out extra inventory.
Why would they possibly be against helping Ukraine? It makes no sense to me.
President Biden is a good man in my books. He tries.
Optics. Greece was going to get those planes anyway, and they won’t be delivered for years.
11 comments
– Joe Biden is sending weapons to Greece, which is then sending its own to Ukraine.
– Greece is reported to have missile-defense systems vital for Ukraine.
– Republicans in Congress are blocking a large Ukraine aid bill.
Joe Biden appears to have found a way around the Republican Party’s blockade of Ukraine aid using a little-known presidential power.
In a letter to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, reported by Greek media, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would send Greece a batch of weapons and equipment free of charge under the Excess Defense Articles law.
The rule states that the US president can authorize the transfer of weapons deemed to be surplus to US requirements to other countries for little or no money.
Under the deal, the US will send Greece two C-130H aircraft, 60 Bradley armored fighting vehicles, 10 engines for P-3 patrol planes, three Protector-class ships, and a consignment of transport trucks. That’s in addition to selling Greece a fleet of 40 F-35 fighter jets for $8 billion.
The transfer was first [reported by Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/01/30/joe-biden-is-arming-greece-so-greece-can-arm-ukraine-and-pro-russia-republicans-cant-stop-him/), citing Greek media reports.
But as a condition of the transfer, Blinken said, Greece should explore ways of providing weapons from its own arsenal to Ukraine, with Greek daily Kathimerini reporting that Greek military leaders have privately agreed to do so.
“We continue to be interested in the defense capabilities that Greece could transfer or sell to Ukraine,” Blinken writes, and dangled the prospect of new, lucrative weapons deals if Athens agrees.
“If these capabilities are of interest to Ukraine, and pending an assessment of their status and value by the US government, we can explore opportunities for possible additional Foreign Armed Forces Financing of up to $200 million for Greece.”
According to the report, Greece has weapons such as the S-300 missile-defense systems and Hawk surface-to-air missiles that would prove valuable to Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Kurt Volker, a former US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, wrote for the European Center for Policy Analysis recently that the Excess Defense Articles law was one of a number of tools available to Biden to keep weapons to Ukraine flowing.
But, said Volker, “none of these are ideal,” and the best way to get Ukraine the support it requires is to pass a new Ukraine aid bill.
“These improvisations will not produce enough equipment or money to sustain Ukraine’s war effort,” noted Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, of the Excess Defense Articles law and related measures, though can help plug equipment shortages.
To deal comes as Republicans in the House of Representatives continue to block a $66 billion aid package to Ukraine, amid partisan squabbling over linked border security measures.
The value of weapons that can be transferred under the Excess Defense Articles law is capped at $500 million.
According to reports, Ukraine is running low on vital supplies of ammunition and equipment as it battles a Russian offensive.
It is amazing how Biden continues to make things happen against so many odds, unlike Trump who is the forever victim, blaming his failures on others.
The Repubs might say he’s senile, but maybe Gramps is quite a bit smarter than he lets on. I have to give him credit for this scheme and I hope there’s more where that came from.
I didn’t like Biden at first but I also knew trump was a direct threat to the United States. Seeing this now I’ll admit I was wrong about Biden. This isn’t the first time he’s figured out a way around the bs to help Ukraine. He has earned my respect. Something few politicians have done.
Wouldn’t call that overcoming. This works only for some specific weapons at availability. It’s not scalable, and it does not necessarily work for providing the weapons that are needed.
Ahh yes, the usual BusinessInsider clickbait garbage
They are indirectly supporting Ukraine by selling F-35s to Greece, something which would have likely happened regardless of the war. Greece can now feel more comfortable parting with the S-300 SAMs they own, but it’s unclear what sort of timeframe that might be *if* the did so. Greece won’t have these planes for years
People in general, both moderates and progressives, love to go out of their way and bend over backwards to make sure people know they dont “like” Biden in one way or another…obviously if you’re a MAGA nutjob conservative you’re required to hate Biden by the Orange shitstain….
…but however you look at it President Biden is effective and just does the job the best anyone can at this point. Who gives a shit if he’s not what everyone hopes for in a leader….leaders rarely *are* that.
I’m not American, and I don’t understand how the Republicans who used to be so anti Russian won’t take this opportunity to give Ukraine what they need to give Russia a bloody nose?
Not only that, but they love defense contractors, and this war has shown how much more effective Western equipment is, and they should be excited to see all these factories pumping out extra inventory.
Why would they possibly be against helping Ukraine? It makes no sense to me.
President Biden is a good man in my books. He tries.
Optics. Greece was going to get those planes anyway, and they won’t be delivered for years.
*Bah gawd is that Oliver North’s theme song?!*