Cyprus–Greece–Israel: Cooperation in the Face of Turkey's Power

Why It Matters

The deepening alliance reshapes the eastern Mediterranean balance of power, challenging Turkey’s maritime ambitions and testing NATO’s cohesion while offering Europe a new security and energy partnership.

Key Takeaways

• $758 million PULS artillery deal signed.
• €3 billion Achilles Shield air‑defence program underway.
• Joint naval drills scheduled for 2026.
• Energy projects aim to bypass Turkish transit routes.
• Turkey perceives bloc as strategic encirclement.

Pulse Analysis

The eastern Mediterranean is witnessing a strategic realignment as Cyprus, Greece and Israel convert their long‑standing energy collaboration into a robust security partnership. Originating from early‑2010s gas discoveries and strained Turkish‑Israeli ties, the trio’s cooperation intensified after the 2023 Gaza war, when Athens and Nicosia adopted a pragmatic stance toward Jerusalem. This shift culminated in the December 2025 Jerusalem summit, where joint military exercises were formalised and a “3+1” framework with the United States was reinforced, signalling a coordinated response to regional threats.

Defence integration now drives the alliance, with Greece finalising a $757.84 million purchase of 36 PULS rocket‑artillery systems and negotiating medium‑ and long‑range air‑defence assets for the €3 billion Achilles Shield project. Cyprus is fielding Israel’s Barak MX system, while all three nations plan extensive naval and air drills in 2026 to ensure interoperability against both conventional and asymmetric challenges. These moves directly counter Turkey’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine, raising concerns within NATO about divergent threat perceptions among member states and the potential for inadvertent escalation in contested waters.

Beyond security, the bloc pursues energy initiatives designed to diminish reliance on Turkish corridors. Proposals such as the $400 million subsea gas pipeline linking an Israeli FPSO to Cyprus’s planned power plant, and renewed talks on the EastMed pipeline, underscore a geopolitical motive that outweighs pure commercial viability. While the EU’s shifting energy demand questions the profitability of such projects, their symbolic value reinforces a narrative of strategic encirclement against Ankara. As the EU presidencies of Greece and Cyprus approach, the alliance’s trajectory will shape not only regional stability but also broader European‑Turkish relations, making its evolution a critical watch‑point for policymakers and investors alike.