Greece has sent a formal request to the United States for the purchase of 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, Reuters reported.

NATO member Greece spends more than 2% of its gross domestic product on defense spending. It has increased its military purchases in recent years as tensions with Turkey have resurfaced.

Mitsotakis said Greece is also looking into buying a second group of aircraft.

Submitting a request is the first step in a multi-step process, he said. The government expects aircraft deliveries to begin in 2027-2028.

Last year, Athens ordered 24 Dassault-built Rafales for 2.5 billion euros and three naval frigates with an option for a fourth from France for around 3 billion euros. The defense ministry also wants to continue upgrading 38 F-16 fighter jets, according to state television channel ERT.

On Wednesday, the United States backed a possible sale of US F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, a day after Ankara lifted its veto over NATO membership of Finland and Sweden, saying Turkey's strong defense capability would bolster NATO's defense capability.