ALBAWABA- Israel, Greece, and Cyprus agreed to strengthen security cooperation and deepen coordination on defense, energy, and economic projects, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday following a trilateral summit in Jerusalem.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Netanyahu said the three countries were expanding their partnership to protect borders and critical maritime routes, while advancing strategic infrastructure and energy links between Europe and the Middle East.
In a joint declaration, the leaders committed to enhancing defense cooperation, boosting counterterrorism efforts, and developing major energy projects, including a trilateral electricity interconnection via a submarine cable linking Israel, Cyprus, and Greece to the European energy grid. Officials said the project would, for the first time, connect Israel directly to Europe’s electricity network.
The three countries also agreed to establish a maritime cybersecurity directorate in Cyprus by 2026 and welcomed continued U.S. engagement in the regional “3+1” framework, which includes Washington alongside the trilateral partnership.
The leaders reaffirmed their support for the Abraham Accords and broader regional stability initiatives.
Netanyahu described the alliance as a vehicle for promoting “peace and prosperity through strength,” while Mitsotakis emphasized Greece’s growing role as a regional energy hub. He pointed to projects such as the Great Sea Interconnector and expanded joint coast guard and military exercises.
The summit builds on a decade-long partnership that began in the 2010s following major natural gas discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean. What initially focused on energy cooperation has since evolved into a broader strategic alignment covering security, innovation, tourism, and economic integration, particularly amid ongoing instability in Gaza and southern Lebanon.
Israeli media reported that discussions also addressed deeper military coordination and the need for a unified strategic posture, though officials stressed there were no plans to form a joint regional military force.
Netanyahu also confirmed that the three countries intend to advance the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, aimed at strengthening supply chains and regional connectivity by land and sea.
The growing trilateral cooperation has drawn concern in Turkey, where officials and media outlets view the partnership as an attempt to limit Ankara’s influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Turkey will defend its maritime rights amid longstanding disputes over exclusive economic zones. The initiative could further strain regional relations at a time of heightened tensions between Ankara, Athens, and their partners.
