Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a joint statement this evening following a trilateral meeting in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Netanyahu began: “This is not our first meeting. It’s our tenth meeting. But I said in our discussions that I think it’s the most consequential. The last time the three of us met was a short time before the October 7th massacre, before terror once again reminded us that stability in this region is never guaranteed, and that strength, clarity and cooperation are not options. They are a must.”
“The Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean are being tested by aggression, terrorism and instability. Our partnership provides strength, clarity and cooperation that will prevail over chaos. It also offers new opportunities for prosperity. We are cooperating, and discussed in detail cooperation, in many fields: energy, technology, connectivity and also security, that guarantees this all.”
“We will advance IMEC, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. This is an idea that has been brought forward before, but we think we have to put it into reality. It’s a maritime and rail pipeline, energy pipeline and cable connectivity between Asia and Europe going through Israel, Cyprus and Greece.”
“As part of this effort, we are advancing the great sea connector that will enable electric energy cooperation between our three countries and Europe, and the Arabian Peninsula, and ultimately you can connect it to Asia as well. So, this is a big thing, and in many ways it’s the skeleton of the IMEC corridor. We discussed practically how to move this forward, and we intend to advance it. I’ll also discuss it in my upcoming meeting with President Trump in the United States.”
“We agreed to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and advanced research. Israel is already a global technology leader, and together with Greece and Cyprus, we will shape the region’s future in cutting-edge new technologies. I want to tell you that a lot is going on right now. Israeli companies, hi-tech companies are flocking to Cyprus and to Greece. It basically says that they believe in the economic management. We’re not jealous. We believe in competition.”
“There are 186 flights a week between Israel and Cyprus. It’s unbelievable. Just compute that. I don’t know of many Israeli investors who have not visited Greece or who are not investing in Greece. Increasing amounts are growing there, and again, I think this is a sign of the dynamism of our economies, Israel’s economy which has been rated third by The Economist as the third most vibrant economy in the planet. I think we were shortchanged, but that’s alright. But I believe that there is dynamism here, there is at once great opportunity but also great challenges, and we recognize them.”
“We affirmed our commitment to expanding the Abraham Accords, to widening the circle of cooperation between Israel and the Arab world. We also expressed support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and for a future in which legitimate state institutions hold authority and military power, and not terrorist militias.”
“We agreed today to deepen our security and defense cooperation. The threats we face are real. Together, we are defending not only our own nations, but vital sea lanes and critical infrastructure that the global economy depends on.”
“I cannot skip the opportunity to call for the immediate return of Ran Gvili, the Israeli hostage that is still held by Hamas. This is contrary to the laws of war, and this is something that has to be completed. But we are, in general, fighting a battle for an orderly future of states that want to seize the future, against those forces who want to drag us back to a dark medieval past that has nothing to do with modernity, and nothing to do with progress.”
“Israel, Greece and Cyprus are three ancient countries with ancient peoples. Jerusalem and Athens are the foundations of Western civilization, and in Cyprus both cultures flourished. You have to go to the Western Wall in Jerusalem; or you go to the Acropolis in Athens; or you go to the incredible historic museum in Nicosia, which I did, and you see the glory of our past. All three of us are very proud of our history in our ancestral homelands as we seize the future.”
“Now it is true that all of our countries were conquered in the past by a succession of empires. But through courage and sacrifice, we achieved our independence in modern times. Greece -195 years ago; Israel – 78 years ago; Cyprus – 65 years ago.”
“To those who fantasize they can reestablish their empires and their dominion over our lands, I say: Forget it. It’s not going to happen. Don’t even think about it. We are committed and able to defend ourselves and our cooperation further enhances that capability. Together, we three genuine democracies in the Eastern Mediterranean shall advance security, prosperity and liberty. With God’s help, we will bring a brighter and safer future to our nations and to the entire region. Together, we bring stability through strength, prosperity through strength, and most important, peace through strength.”
President Christodoulides followed: “I want to start with my well-wishes to Jewish communities around the world on the occasion of the last day of Hanukkah. The first day, was marred by an antisemitic attack in Australia, and we stand in solidarity with all those affected.”
“We reaffirmed our strategic cooperation based on shared values and goals, and our trilateral format has matured and deepened in a wide variety of sectors. I am particularly pleased to announce the reestablishment of the trilateral secretariat in Cyprus, which gives a regional framework for international task forces or working groups to reach agreements.”
“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to President Trump’s twenty-point plan and the UN Security Council Resolution 2803. We continue to support reconstruction and humanitarian assistance in full respect of Israel’s legitimate security needs. We affirmed the strategic importance of the energy projects connecting Europe with the Middle East and beyond.”
“We also commit to the shared security of our civil and military infrastructure, and welcome the establishment of the trilateral maritime cybersecurity directorate to be inaugurated in Cyprus in 2026. We also welcome the 3+! forum with the United States, which has been critical for the region’s architecture and stability. We realize that much more can still be achieved in fields of counterterrorism and security.”
“This summit takes place just eight days before the Council of the EU. We had the opportunity to exchange ideas, including the fact that a key priority will be strengthening the EU’s relations with the region, including, of course, Israel. Our presence here is not symbolic – our alliance is essential to stability and security in the Mediterranean and beyond.”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated: “This tenth trilateral summit reaffirms the depth and maturity of our strategic cooperation. Our region is undergoing profound change. This creates profound risks but also a window of opportunity to shape regional security that can deliver peace and prosperity. Our goals should always be anchored in international law and guided by good neighborly principles.”
“I, too, wish to express my solidarity with the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting, and insist that antisemitism has no place in our countries. I also join in the call for the return of the last remaining hostage, and reaffirm support for the twenty-point plan – all while insisting on the elimination of Hamas as a threat. We always stand ready to contribute to the day after through diplomacy and stabilization, as a well-respected country in the region. We also support Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability, and our support to the Lebanese military is important in ensuring a state monopoly on arms throughout the country.”
“One year after the fall of the Assad regime, we stress the importance of restoring security and stability, and respecting the rights of all ethnicminorities. This must be a prameter for an enduring political settlement.”
“I think we’re at the beginning of a tremendous AI revolution and we need to seize this power in a positive and constructive manner. There is more we can do in the fields of emergency preparedness; we always stand shoulder to shoulder when natural catastrophes strike, and I envision a more structured manner for dealing with civil protection. The climate crisis is already present and impacting our countries in numerous ways.”
“We discussed other fields of cooperation as well – maritime cooperation, energy, and electricity exports, and maritime pollution and a response to it. We discussed the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor) and the need to move from concept to deliverables. We see a lot of potential in working together in these projects. This and the 3+1 forum with the USA will add clear value and another dimension to the corridor. This partnership has delivered concrete results and will continue to do so in our new era.”