Israel, Greece and Cyprus Unite Against Threats: New Military Alliance Shakes Eastern Mediterranean

Israeli channel i24NEWS reported that Israeli, Greek, and Cypriot military officials met in Athens to discuss enhancing military cooperation and confronting common challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The report added that this step reflects a strategic convergence among the three countries amid escalating disputes over maritime rights and the agreement delimiting maritime jurisdiction zones between Turkey and Libya. The meeting was attended by heads of security policy bodies in the defense ministries of the three countries, along with senior officials.

It noted that the Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed that security cooperation represents a fundamental pillar of the trilateral partnership, based on the joint declaration adopted by the leaders of the countries during their summit in Jerusalem on December 22, 2025. It renewed its invitation to other countries with similar visions and positions to join the trilateral cooperation framework to expand the partnership and enhance coordination in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

i24NEWS stated that the talks covered assessing regional security developments, expanding cooperation between defense industries, developing innovation and military technology, as well as protecting vital sea lanes and strategic infrastructure.

It added that officials discussed ways to translate shared interests into practical projects through exchanging expertise, launching joint initiatives, and establishing regular dialogue between relevant authorities. They also discussed opportunities for joint development and production, technological cooperation, and the possibility of establishing a specialized trilateral working group on defense industries.

It indicated that the files under discussion included disaster preparedness and response, enhancing civil protection, and raising the level of coordination to confront emerging security threats. The joint statement emphasized the necessity of cooperation to combat terrorism, the proliferation of advanced weapons, and destabilizing activities, whether by state or non-state actors in the Eastern Mediterranean and the region.

i24NEWS said that the most prominent political positions contained in the statement saw the three countries renewing their rejection of unilateral demands, threats to use force, and military moves that would destabilize the region. They stressed the importance of adhering to international law and the rules of the Law of the Sea regarding maritime rights and the delimitation of jurisdiction zones.

It added that the parties addressed the memorandum of understanding between Turkey and the Libyan Government of National Accord regarding the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction zones in the Mediterranean Sea, which was ratified by the Libyan House of Representatives on October 20, 2026. The three countries considered that the memorandum infringes upon the sovereign rights of other states and ignores the international rules governing maritime jurisdiction.

It noted that Israel, Greece, and Cyprus affirmed that this memorandum cannot produce legal effects against third countries. They reiterated support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and international law, and rejected the use of any country's territory in the region as a platform for carrying out activities that threaten regional security.

The Israeli channel also said that the three countries emphasized in the energy file the importance of cooperation as a pillar for regional stability and resilience, expressing their rejection of attempts to disrupt cooperation projects in this field in violation of international law.

It added that the parties affirmed the importance of freedom of navigation, the protection of critical infrastructure, and energy supply lines, given their implications for the security and prosperity of Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

It indicated that the parties concluded by affirming that the trilateral partnership is based on shared democratic values and integrated strategic interests, forming a framework for political and security coordination and strengthening links between Europe and the Middle East. They considered that dialogue, cooperation, and respect for international law represent the foundations for the future of the region.