rapid task — The defence ministry has declined to confirm or deny discussions regarding a potential joint rapid task force with Israel and Greece. Reports in both Israeli and Greek media suggested that such proposals were being formulated, but the ministry’s spokesperson remained non-committal.
In a conversation with the Cyprus Mail on Friday, the ministry refrained from accepting or rejecting claims that the topic had come up during discussions on Wednesday involving the air force chiefs of staff from Cyprus, Greece, and Israel.
Adding to the uncertainty, Defence Minister Michalis Palmas addressed the matter on Alpha TV, where he played down the reported confidential meeting. He stated, ‘Decisions of such magnitude could only be taken by political leadership’ and claimed no such issue had been raised during his discussions.
Palmas’ remarks came after his visit to Israel earlier in the week, where he met with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. The discussions primarily revolved around bilateral defence cooperation and the evolving security landscape in the eastern Mediterranean, particularly in light of the ongoing developments following the Gaza ceasefire.
The initial reports, which originated from the Greek newspaper Ta Nea, indicated that Greece, Israel, and Cyprus were contemplating the establishment of a 2,500-strong rapid reaction force. This force is purportedly aimed at safeguarding shared interests against what have been characterised as Turkish provocations. According to these reports, Greece and Israel would each contribute 1,000 troops, with Cyprus providing approximately 500, supported by air and naval installations across Rhodes, Cyprus, and Israel.
In a related development, President Nicos Christodoulides is scheduled to travel to Jerusalem on Monday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Their discussions are expected to focus on energy cooperation, including the significant sea interconnector project, as well as enhancing security ties among the three nations.
