The prime ministers of Israel and Greece and the president of Cyprus met in Jerusalem on Monday, December 22, for a trilateral summit, the tenth such meeting since 2016. The summits have been held with varying frequency, ranging from biannual summits to meetings held once every two years, depending on developments. The current meeting was the first since the events of October 7, 2023, and symbolized that—thanks to the ceasefire in Gaza and Trump’s 20-point plan—the trilateral ties between the countries are returning to their prewar trajectory.
Over the years, the energy field has featured prominently in the various summits, and this time as well, the leaders discussed the issue of the undersea electricity cable between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, including its connection to the planned India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC) initiative. Although the countries present their relations as not directed against any third party, an implicit reference to Turkey was evident. An intention to increase military cooperation among the three countries was also noted.
In the days preceding the meeting, the Greek press reported that the three countries might establish a rapid response force of approximately 2,500 troops. Although the Israeli side denied that such a force was being formed, the reports reflect the strategic logic of the evolving security ties among the three countries. Since 2014, they have conducted at least 28 joint military exercises, sometimes with additional countries such as the United States or the United Arab Emirates, and involving air, naval, and ground forces.
Security cooperation is also evident in arms procurement. Greece and Cyprus have purchased, or are in talks to purchase, Israeli weapons systems, primarily air defense systems. At the same time, in recent years, Israel has purchased several Greek defense companies.
However, despite the deepening of practical cooperation, the security framework among the three countries remains limited. In this context, there are clear constraints: Greece, as a member of NATO and the European Union; Cyprus, as a member of the European Union; and Israel, which seeks to maintain almost complete independence in decision-making, are not truly interested in moving toward a formal alliance. Nevertheless, the current summit still symbolizes the growing maturity of ties that have been developing for more than a decade.
This post was written as part of a broader international research project that received support from the Ministry of Regional Cooperation.
The prime ministers of Israel and Greece and the president of Cyprus met in Jerusalem on Monday, December 22, for a trilateral summit, the tenth such meeting since 2016. The summits have been held with varying frequency, ranging from biannual summits to meetings held once every two years, depending on developments. The current meeting was the first since the events of October 7, 2023, and symbolized that—thanks to the ceasefire in Gaza and Trump’s 20-point plan—the trilateral ties between the countries are returning to their prewar trajectory.
Over the years, the energy field has featured prominently in the various summits, and this time as well, the leaders discussed the issue of the undersea electricity cable between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, including its connection to the planned India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC) initiative. Although the countries present their relations as not directed against any third party, an implicit reference to Turkey was evident. An intention to increase military cooperation among the three countries was also noted.
In the days preceding the meeting, the Greek press reported that the three countries might establish a rapid response force of approximately 2,500 troops. Although the Israeli side denied that such a force was being formed, the reports reflect the strategic logic of the evolving security ties among the three countries. Since 2014, they have conducted at least 28 joint military exercises, sometimes with additional countries such as the United States or the United Arab Emirates, and involving air, naval, and ground forces.
Security cooperation is also evident in arms procurement. Greece and Cyprus have purchased, or are in talks to purchase, Israeli weapons systems, primarily air defense systems. At the same time, in recent years, Israel has purchased several Greek defense companies.
However, despite the deepening of practical cooperation, the security framework among the three countries remains limited. In this context, there are clear constraints: Greece, as a member of NATO and the European Union; Cyprus, as a member of the European Union; and Israel, which seeks to maintain almost complete independence in decision-making, are not truly interested in moving toward a formal alliance. Nevertheless, the current summit still symbolizes the growing maturity of ties that have been developing for more than a decade.
This post was written as part of a broader international research project that received support from the Ministry of Regional Cooperation.