Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Robert Menendez gave the green light for the sale of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to Greece, now the ratification of the defense contract is only a matter of time, ERT public television reported.

Menendez said at the Delphi Economic Forum in Washington that he approved the delivery of F-35 fighter jets to Greece two days ago because the country shares American values. The consent of the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee is a prerequisite for the sale of U.S. weapons systems, he has the right to veto.

According to procedure, the Republican vice chairman of the committee and the chairman and vice chairman of the relevant committee in the House of Representatives must also give their consent. It is only a matter of time before Congress is formally informed of the sale of the F-35 to Greece, and once consent is obtained, the established procedure for ratification of the defense contract will follow.