Israel, Greece and Cyprus Agree to Deepen Defense Cooperation
Senior defense officials from Israel, Greece and Cyprus agreed November 5 to deepen military cooperation and establish a joint defense-industry working group during talks in Athens.
The meeting brought together the heads of defense policy and other senior representatives from the three ministries. A statement published by Cyprus’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the date and location and said the delegations discussed security challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region.
The working group is intended to connect the countries’ defense industries and explore opportunities for joint development and production. The officials also discussed making their militaries better able to operate together, according to the joint statement reported by The Jerusalem Post.
Maritime security was a major focus. The talks addressed protecting sea lanes, critical infrastructure and energy-supply routes linking Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. The countries also identified disaster preparedness and civil protection as areas for closer cooperation.
The initiative builds on a declaration adopted at a December 22, 2025 summit in Jerusalem. The three ministries described defense cooperation as a central part of that partnership and reiterated an invitation for other like-minded states to participate in the framework.
The delegations also reaffirmed their opposition to the maritime memorandum between Turkey and Libya. They said the arrangement infringes on third countries’ sovereign rights and cannot impose legal consequences on other states. That is the three governments’ stated position on the agreement, rather than a new ruling by an international court.
Libya’s House of Representatives ratified the memorandum on October 20, according to The Jerusalem Post. The dispute concerns maritime jurisdiction, making it relevant to offshore activity, energy cooperation and competing interests in the region.
The three countries expressed support for Cyprus’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and emphasized dialogue and respect for international law. Their statement also opposed coercion, threats of force and destabilizing military buildups.
Officials identified terrorism, the spread of advanced weapons and destabilizing activities by state and non-state actors as shared concerns. The announced next step is the defense-industry working group and further coordination among the ministries; the meeting did not announce a completed joint weapons-production project.
References
The Jerusalem Post — November 5, 2026; updated November 6, 2026.
jpost/israel-news/article-914014
Cyprus Ministry of Defence — November 5, 2026.
Meeting held November 5, 2026, in Athens.
gov.cy/mod/mi-katigoriopoiimeno/trimeris-synantisis-dieythynton-amyntikis-politikis-kyproy-elladas-israil/
