Greece, Israel and Cyprus will intensify joint air and naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean in 2026, deepening defence cooperation closely watched by regional rival Turkey, Greek military officials and a senior source said.
Greece’s armed forces general staff said senior military officials from the three countries signed a joint action plan for defence cooperation in Cyprus last week.
The move follows a meeting in Jerusalem where Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to strengthen maritime security and energy projects.
A senior Greek official said the deal will include joint naval and air drills and the transfer of Israeli know-how to Greece and Cyprus to address both “asymmetrical” and “symmetrical” threats.
“Greece and Israel will intensify joint exercises after the ceasefire in Gaza, with Cyprus participating,” the official said, noting Greece plans to join Israel’s Noble Dina exercise in the eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus has not commented, but opposition party AKEL said, “Mr Christodoulides proceeds to deepen military-political cooperation with Israel without considering the risks and consequences of this choice.”
Greece and Cyprus have already purchased Israeli missile systems worth billions of euros, and Athens is in talks to buy further anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic systems for its planned €3 billion “Achilles Shield” defence program.
This month, Greece also approved the purchase of 36 PULS rocket artillery systems from Israel to boost defences near Turkey and on Aegean islands.
Source: Ekathimerini.
