Cyprus, Greece and Israel are closing ranks. A new alliance targeting Turkey

Cyprus, Greece and Israel signed a trilateral agreement in Nicosia, Cyprus in the last days of 2025, which is intended to intensify security cooperation. The alliance is primarily intended to deter Turkey, with which the three countries have very tense relations.

Under the agreement, Cyprus, Greece and Israel will step up military exercises and intelligence cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean, starting from the first days of 2026.

Earlier, on December 22, in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Then The Greeks have committed to purchasing multi-billion euro elements of Israeli air defense under the Achilles Shield program and PULS artillery systemsaimed at strengthening the defense of the Greek islands near the Turkish coast and at the same time reducing their dependence on traditional European suppliers such as France and Germany.

As part of the new agreement, details of which have just been revealed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), cited by the Jerusalem Post, Athens will take part in the Noble Dina naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea in the spring, organized and led by Israel.

Military cooperation between these countries has accelerated in the past five years. Israel took full advantage of it when preparing to attack Iran. For example, in June 2022, Israeli planes flew to Gibraltar and back, refueling in Greek airspace en route, and then simulated an attack using selected targets in Cyprus.

The new allies have terrible relations with Turkey. In addition to the dispute over the northern part of Cyprus, Greece is arguing with Ankara over the rights to exclusive economic zones in the Aegean Sea and the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, where rich hydrocarbon deposits have been discovered.

Israel, which until recently cooperated with Turkey, now has a staunch enemy in it after the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

According to the ModernDiplomacy website, Türkiye will probably respond to the new alliance with more naval patrols, military maneuvers or diplomatic pressure, increasing the risk of accidental escalation of tensions. (PAP)

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