At another level the strategic relationship is led to Greece–Israelas, in addition to the synonym for regional issues and security threats in the region, the two countries want to boost to defense cooperation, even with co -production of modern weapon systems.
In the short visit of Kyriakou Mitsotakis In Israel, the Prime Minister He met with the President of the country Isaac Hertzog and had a private meeting with his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. However, what stands out is his meeting with Israeli Defense Ministry officials (SIBAT) and with senior Israeli Defense Industry executives, with the aim of “seeking opportunities for partnership and co -production, emphasizing technological innovation, research and strategies”.
According to government sources“Emphasized the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation in the ongoing development of the ecosystem of Greek defense industries, to which companies with high value added products are added.”
The involvement of Israeli defensive industry In the great effort it has begun to upgrade our country’s deterrent capacity, with the creation of the “iron dome”, it is important. However, it will be even more important to promote partnerships and co -productions, which will in turn upgrade the Greek defense industry.
Mitsotaki – Netanyahu talks They confirmed the high level of relations between the two countries, which has been maintained, through subtle balances, throughout the Gaza war. Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted on the need for a truce in Gaza and the release of hostages, while Israel, with the US support, continues its clearing operations in the Gaza Strip and supports Donald Trump’s (problematic) plan for the area.
Athens and Tel Aviv have wide -ranging consonance on issues related to regional challenges and security threats in the East Mediterraneanon which the strategic relationship between the two countries is based.
For Athens, it is extremely important to maintain this relationship, as Israel is an important regional player who, at least in the visible future, will act as the big counterweight in an effort to expand it. Turkey and its emergence in a leading regional force in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.
I had the pleasure of meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the meeting we reaffirmed the Greece-Israel strategic relationship and discussed further deepening bilateral cooperation especially in the field of defense. https://t.co/IVaURav1m4 pic.twitter.com/nrfZhh7UVQ
– Prime Minister GR (@primeminister) March 30, 2025
The new Ankara-Tel Aviv episode
Yesterday, in fact, there was one more severe episode between Ankara and Tel Aviv, On the occasion of the Erdogan statement in the closure of Ramadan, where he wished “Allah to destroy Israel”. THE Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, G. Saar, In a post he attacked the Turkish president, stating: “Dictator Erdogan revealed his anti -Semitic face. It is dangerous to the region and its people, as it has been proven these days. Hopefully NATO members will understand and act quickly. “
This statement sparked a strong reaction from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, while Erdogan’s diplomatic adviser, T. Kilits, and AKP spokesman.
Turkey’s interventionism in Syria And its pursuit of having a strong influence in the country even to gain a military presence on Syrian territory is a “red line” for Israel. In recent days, Israeli bombings on the military base of Palmyra have been a loud response to the information that the al -Saraa regime in Damascus has agreed to grant this base to Turkey.
Mediation to the US
Athens estimates that Israel will be what will oppose, with all its influence in Washington, in scenarios for lifting the sanctions caatsa to Turkey, which would allow it to return to the F-35 program. This possibility is directly concerned with Greece, as the removal of sanctions would overturn the strategic advantage of the Aegean to the addition of the F-35s to the Rafale, which our country already has.
Athens has a limited ability to intervene in Washington to prevent this process. At the same time, he wishes to avoid publicly engaging in the discussion, as this may re -give up the reason for the Recep Tayyip Erdogan To trigger the tension, as it had happened after Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ speech in Congress, where he appealed to US lawmakers not to allow the F-16s to sell to Turkey.
However, Greece-Israel also offers the opportunity in our country to be present at the new security architecture in the Middle East on the initiative of USAand in which Israel has a dominant position. At the same time, it opens a good “communication corridor” with the new US government.
It is also important that the new US administration continues to support the promotion of the IMEC corridor, which is the first to be a strategic, economic, energy and commercial project, which will also be a pillar of the US strategy for the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Of course, the prerequisite for the implementation of this project is to normalize the situation in Gaza that will launch and the expansion of Abraham agreements and the restoration of Israel’s relations with S. Arabia.
The 3+1 figure and the energy
The revival of Figure 3 + 1 (Greece – Cyprus – Israel + USA) is also of a high priority and is something that is being run by Israel for the next time. It is a scheme that prioritizes energy cooperation and interconnection projects.
Athens has fully informed Israel about Turkey’s problems in the important work of the Greece -Cyprus electric interconnection, which will have an final end of Israel, thus connecting Asia with Europe.
Israel’s political and diplomatic support in the project is useful, but of course it will be judged next time, since investigations are expanded outside 6.N. In the Greek demarcated EEZ, if this diplomatic-political support, not only from Israel but also by France and the EU. It is enough to prevent Turkey from attempting to prevent investigations or to argue demands that will “cancel” the Greek EEZ.
During Jerusalem talks, security challenges for navigation in the Red Sea were also discussed, with the attacks of Houthi, affecting world shipping and world trade, as well as developments in Lebanon and Syria.
The Greek Prime Minister conveyed his messages to Mr Netanyahu, after the five -member conference held in Paris, with the participation of himself and the presidents of France, Cyprus and Lebanon, as well as the conference conference they had with the temporary president of Syria.