Greece, Israel, and Cyprus to Intensify Joint Military Exercises in Eastern Mediterranean

Athens -Greece, Israel, and Cyprus have agreed to enhance their defense ties by increasing joint air and naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean starting in 2026, according to Greek military officials and a senior government source.

The three countries, which have strengthened relations over the past decade through military drills, arms purchases, and energy projects, are expanding cooperation amid ongoing regional tensions, particularly with Turkey monitoring these developments closely.

Greece's armed forces headquarters (GEETHA) announced that senior officers from the trio signed a joint defense action plan in Cyprus last week, though specifics were not disclosed.

This military agreement builds on a trilateral summit hosted by Israel in Jerusalem on December 22, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. The leaders signed commitments to bolster maritime security and advance energy infrastructure links.

A senior Greek official described the plan as including expanded naval and air drills, along with Israel sharing expertise on countering both asymmetric threats (such as drones and terrorism) and symmetric ones (conventional warfare). "Post-Gaza ceasefire, Greece and Israel will ramp up bilateral exercises, with Cyprus joining," the official noted. Greece is also set to participate in Israel's longstanding Noble Dina naval exercise in the coming months.

While the Cypriot government has not commented officially, the opposition AKEL party criticized the move, stating that President Christodoulides is deepening ties with Israel "without considering the risks and consequences."

The partnership extends to arms deals: Greece and Cyprus have already acquired Israeli missile systems worth billions of euros. Greece is negotiating for medium- and long-range anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic systems to integrate into its planned "Achilles Shield" multi-layered defense network, projected to cost around €3 billion ($3.5 billion).

Earlier this month, the Greek parliament approved the acquisition of 36 PULS precision rocket artillery systems from Israel, aimed at strengthening defenses along the northeastern border with Turkey and in the Aegean islands.

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