Greece, Cyprus, and Israel Formalize Defense Pact in Nicosia

Historic Agreements Signed in Nicosia

Military officials representing Greece, Cyprus, and Israel formalized a significant defense alliance by signing a landmark Joint Action Plan and a bilateral Greece-Israel Military Cooperation Program in Nicosia on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. This signing followed a high-level trilateral summit held in Jerusalem on Monday, December 22, 2025, attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

The agreements are designed to reinforce ongoing trilateral cooperation on security, defense, and military matters, signaling a deepening of the strategic 'Eastern Mediterranean Alliance.'

Key Pillars of Cooperation

The newly signed Joint Action Plan and Military Cooperation Program outline an ambitious framework for enhanced defense collaboration. Key areas of focus include:

• Joint Exercises: An intensive multi-domain exercise schedule for 2026 is planned. This includes Israeli fighter jets returning to Greece for the 'Iniochos 2026' exercise and Greece maintaining its participation in Israel's major naval exercise, 'Noble Dina.'
• Special Operations: Enhanced joint training for commando and naval units.
• Modern Warfare Expertise: Exchange of knowledge and collaborative development of tactics for unmanned systems (UAVs) and electronic warfare (EW), including countermeasures against drone technology.
• Defense Procurement: Greece is actively exploring the acquisition of advanced Israeli defense technology, such as LORA Ballistic Missiles, Anti-Drone Shields, and C4I Technology. Cyprus has already integrated Israel's Barak MX air defense system.

These initiatives aim to significantly improve early warning capabilities and operational readiness, establishing a unified defense architecture across the Eastern Mediterranean corridor.

Strategic Context and Regional Dynamics

The deepening alliance is largely driven by shared strategic interests and concerns over regional stability, particularly in response to growing Turkish military activity and belligerence in the Eastern Mediterranean. During the Jerusalem summit, Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a strong statement, asserting, 'To those who fantasize they can reestablish their empires and their dominion over our lands, I say: Forget it. It's not going to happen. Don't even think about it.'

Discussions also reportedly included the potential creation of a joint rapid response force, envisioned as a 2,500-strong brigade-level unit comprising 1,000 troops from Israel, 1,000 from Greece, and 500 from Cyprus. This force would be tasked with protecting critical regional infrastructure, including underwater pipelines, and enhancing deterrence.

Beyond defense, the trilateral partnership also focuses on energy cooperation, including advancing natural gas development and linking electrical grids through the proposed EuroAsia Interconnector, the world's longest and deepest underwater electricity cable.

Reactions from the Region

The agreements have drawn criticism from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Prime Minister Unal Ustel warned that the emerging military cooperation risks escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ustel stated that proposals for a rapid intervention force, perceived as a deterrent against Turkey and Turkish Cypriots, amount to 'a new and dangerous threat' to regional peace. He further accused Israel of seeking to 'carry instability into the Eastern Mediterranean' through its aggressive policies.