Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem on Sunday to advance defense and energy cooperation, signaling closer strategic ties amid heightened regional tensions. The visit comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan increases Ankara’s assertive stance in the Eastern Mediterranean, prompting Greece and Israel to reinforce their alliance.

Mitsotakis held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, as well as key figures in Israel’s defense industry. Discussions centered on joint defense projects, technological innovation, and strategic cooperation. The meeting also underscored mutual interest in the Greece-Cyprus-Israel electricity interconnection project, a crucial energy initiative.

The Greek delegation explored opportunities for joint defense production, with Israel’s defense companies, including IAI, Rafael and Elbit, expressing interest in collaborating with Greek industries. Talks focused on co-developing unmanned aerial vehicles and missile systems, with Athens seeking advanced military technology transfers. The potential agreements could enable Israel to mass-produce defense systems within the European market, benefiting both nations.

The visit also reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to completing the Great Sea Interconnector, an undersea power link integrating the three nations’ electricity grids. Turkey has opposed the project, viewing it as a geopolitical challenge to its influence in the region.

Greece’s closer ties with Israel come as Turkey deploys its intelligence ship Ufuk south of Crete, monitoring regional developments. While the vessel remains outside Greece’s immediate exploratory zones, its presence signals Ankara’s continued interest in the region’s energy and defense dynamics.

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is set to meet his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, on the sidelines of the NATO Ministerial Summit in Brussels later this week. The talks are expected to address rising tensions and ongoing territorial disputes.

Mitsotakis’ visit highlights Greece’s strategic alignment with Israel at a time when European nations remain cautious regarding Middle Eastern affairs. The trip precedes his parliamentary address on Greece’s long-term defense procurement strategy, where Israeli companies are expected to play a significant role, particularly in Greece’s multilayered missile and anti-drone defense system, “Achilles’ Shield.”

As Israel expands its defense footprint in Greece, the alliance strengthens both nations’ military capabilities and signals a firm stance against regional threats, solidifying their partnership in the face of geopolitical shifts.

Source: Ekathimerini.com