Greece, Israel, Greek Cypriot administration to step up joint drills in 2026: Report

Greece, Israel and Greek Cypriot Administration will intensify joint air and naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean in 2026, deepening defense cooperation among the three countries, according to a Reuters report published Monday, citing Greek military officials and a senior source.

The three eastern Mediterranean nations have drawn closer over the past decade through joint military drills, defense procurement and energy cooperation. Last week, a trilateral working plan for military cooperation between Israel, Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) was signed in Greek Cypriot administration, Israeli authorities said Sunday.

According to a statement from the Israeli military, the trilateral plan was signed alongside bilateral working plans for 2026 between the Israeli army and the Greek army, as well as between Israeli forces and GCASC units.

The agreement followed a meeting in Jerusalem between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the leaders agreed to strengthen maritime security cooperation and advance regional energy interconnection projects.

Joint air, naval exercises planned

The military cooperation will include joint naval and air exercises and the transfer of know-how from Israel to Greece and (Greek) Cyprus to address both “asymmetrical” and “symmetrical” threats, Reuters reported, citing a senior Greek official familiar with the matter.

“Greece and Israel will intensify joint exercises after the ceasefire in Gaza, with GCASC participating,” the official said.

The source added that Greece plans to take part in Israel’s Noble Dina naval exercise in the eastern Mediterranean in the coming months.

Arms purchases deepen defense ties

Greece and GCASC have already purchased missile systems from Israel worth billions of euros. Athens is also in talks to procure medium- and long-range anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missile systems from Israel as part of a planned multi-layer air and drone defense shield known as Achilles Shield, estimated to cost about €3 billion ($3.5 billion).

Earlier this month, the Greek parliament approved the purchase of 36 PULS rocket artillery systems from Israel to bolster defenses along Greece’s northeastern border with Türkiye and on Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.

On April 1, 2025, Mitsotakis visited Netanyahu in Israel, becoming the first European leader to meet him in person after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Analysts have raised concerns over Greece’s growing alignment with Israel, particularly following the trilateral summit.

Veteran Greek journalist John Kountouris criticized Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration for what he described as serving the political agenda of Netanyahu.

“Unfortunately, both Greece and (Greek) Cyprus are serving this dictator and his interests in line with the so-called ‘Greater Israel’ project,” Kountouris told Anadolu, referring to the Israeli prime minister.