Israel Forms Eastern Mediterranean Security Pact With Greece and Cyprus

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted a trilateral summit in Jerusalem on December 22, 2025, with leaders from Greece and Cyprus to expand security coordination and military alignment in the Eastern Mediterranean. During the meeting, Netanyahu warned against those attempting to re-establish empires, a comment widely interpreted as a reference to Turkiye.

This security framework is supported by significant defense deals. Greece approved 760 million dollars for Israeli rocket artillery and is advancing a 3.5 billion dollar air defense agreement. Cyprus previously received an Israeli-made air defense system in September 2025.

The alignment coincides with Israel recognizing Somaliland and conducting over 600 air strikes in Syria throughout 2025. Turkish officials view these actions as a containment strategy intended to marginalize Turkiye's regional influence. In response, Turkiye has invested approximately 8 billion dollars in a major naval procurement process and coordinated with Syrian officials in Damascus on the day of the summit to prioritize Syrian stabilization.