ATHENS — When the Greek government decides it is ready to embark on this investment, the U.S. government has said that it is willing to collaborate with Greece, stated US Ambassador in Athens Geoffrey Pyatt on Thursday, in response to a question on Greece's possible acquisition of F-35 fighter jets.

He also noted that the F-35s are a complex system and, quoting the manufacturer Lockheed Martin, he referred to a lengthy process, lasting approximately five years from the contract to development.

In terms of Greek-Turkish relation, Pyatt said that the US supports the efforts of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias to put exploratory talks back on track, underlining that the ball is now in Ankara's court in terms of replying to the Greek proposal for a new round of talks in Athens. "We prefer the current situation to the one we experienced in August," Pyatt added.