Israel, Greece, and Cyprus have quietly signed a trilateral military cooperation work plan for 2026, deepening a strategic alliance aimed at boosting regional security and deterring Turkish military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The agreement was signed last week in Nicosia, though revealed publicly only on Sunday by the Israeli military. The Israeli delegation was led by Brig. Gen. Amit Adler, head of the IDF’s International Cooperation Division, alongside senior Greek and Cypriot counterparts.
Under the plan, the three countries will expand joint military exercises, training programs, strategic dialogue, and specialized working groups across land, air, and maritime domains. Israeli officials said the agreement strengthens stability and security in a region marked by rising tensions.
At the center of discussions is a proposed rapid-response force of around 2,500 troops—approximately 1,000 soldiers each from Israel and Greece, and 500 from Cyprus. The force would not be permanent but could be deployed swiftly during crises on land, at sea, or in the air, according to Greek media reports.
Security sources say the initiative is explicitly designed to deter Turkey’s growing military footprint and assertive posture in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Israel Air Force, Navy, and interservice coordination units are heavily involved in planning the framework.
The agreement follows a high-level summit last week in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, underscoring the political weight behind the expanding trilateral alliance.
Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are formalizing a security bloc prepared to act—fast—if regional tensions escalate.
