Israel, Greece, Cyprus deepen defense cooperation

The defense ministries of Greece, Cyprus and Israel met Thursday in Athens for a trilateral session focused on deepening security cooperation and addressing shared threats across the Eastern Mediterranean.

The meeting brought together the heads of defense-policy divisions from all three ministries, alongside senior officials. The sides reaffirmed that security cooperation is a central pillar of the partnership between the countries, continuing the joint declaration adopted at the leaders' summit held in Jerusalem in December 2025. The participants also recalled the leaders' invitation to other like-minded partners to join the trilateral framework.

During the session, the three sides restated their shared commitment to peace, stability, security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region. They discussed ways to further deepen cooperation among the three defense establishments.

The discussions centered on regional security assessments; expanding cooperation between the defense industries and in defense innovation; maritime security, including the protection of vital shipping routes and critical infrastructure; and disaster preparedness, response and civil defense.

The sides examined opportunities to translate their shared strategic interests into practical trilateral cooperation. Among the avenues explored: professional exchanges, identification of joint initiatives and regular dialogue among relevant officials. In this context, the participants emphasized the importance of advancing partnerships among the countries' defense industries, examining opportunities for joint development, joint production and technological cooperation, and establishing a trilateral working group in the defense-industry field. The aim of these steps is to expand shared capabilities, improve interoperability and strengthen the industrial base of the security partnership.

The sides underscored the importance of addressing shared security challenges. Among the challenges cited were terrorism, the proliferation of advanced weapons, and destabilizing activity by state and non-state actors across the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region. The three countries also agreed to tighten coordination among themselves in order to confront emerging threats and strengthen their collective resilience.

The participants emphasized the importance of upholding the law of the sea as reflected in customary international law, and the importance of adhering to internationally recognized principles governing maritime rights and maritime jurisdiction. They reiterated their support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international law. The sides also expressed opposition to unilateral claims, coercion, threats of the use of force and destabilizing military build-up. They stressed that no country in the region should serve as a platform for actions that threaten regional security.

Israel and Greece in joint naval exercise (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

The three defense ministries reiterated their position that the memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Libya on the delimitation of maritime-jurisdiction zones in the Mediterranean, which was ratified by the Libyan House of Representatives about two weeks ago, infringes on the sovereign rights of third states, disregards the international norms governing maritime jurisdiction, and cannot produce any legal effects vis-à-vis third states.

The sides highlighted energy cooperation as a pillar of regional stability and resilience, and expressed opposition to attempts to disrupt it in violation of international law. They also emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation and the protection of critical infrastructure and energy-supply routes for the security and prosperity of Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The participants further stressed that the trilateral partnership, founded on shared democratic values and complementary strategic interests, serves as a platform for strategic coordination and a framework for responsible regional engagement. The partnership contributes to the security of the Eastern Mediterranean and strengthens the ties between Europe and the Middle East.

In conclusion, the three ministries expressed their shared view that cooperation, dialogue and respect for international law are the foundations for the future of the Eastern Mediterranean. According to them, the region can become one of security, connectivity and sustainable prosperity.