defence plans — defence plans — Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas has firmly denied speculation surrounding a proposed joint rapid-response force involving Cyprus, Greece, and Israel, while confirming the recent establishment of a trilateral work plan for military cooperation.
- As the situation evolves, Greece is planning to participate in Israel's upcoming Noble Dina naval exercise in the coming months, with Cyprus also involved in these preparations.
The minister’s comments came following a report from the Jerusalem Post, which detailed the signing of a military cooperation plan in Nicosia last week. The event featured Brigadier General Amit Adler of the Israeli Defence Forces, alongside unidentified military officers from Greece and Cyprus.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the trilateral agreement encompasses joint exercises and training, as well as working groups and strategic military dialogue on mutual interests. Palmas acknowledged the signing, clarifying that such agreements are standard procedure for Cyprus as it engages in military collaborations with various allies.
“Frequently, the Republic of Cyprus signs cooperation agreements for the year ahead with friendly countries,” Palmas stated, emphasising the importance of these arrangements for joint training and operational planning.
Despite this, Palmas was quick to dismiss claims of a rapid-response force, stating, “There is no such issue,” during a conversation with Politis radio. This marked the second occasion in two weeks that he has publicly refuted the existence of such plans.
The initial suggestion of a joint response force emerged from Greek media, which reported that a brigade-level unit, potentially consisting of 2,500 personnel, would be established. This force was said to include 1,000 troops each from Greece and Israel, alongside 500 from Cyprus, supported by aerial and naval assets stationed in various locations, including Rhodes or Karpathos.
According to the Greek newspaper Ta Nea, the purpose of this proposed force would be to safeguard the interests of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel from perceived Turkish provocations, a situation exacerbated by long-standing tensions between Greece and Turkey over maritime borders.
Israeli reports have not independently confirmed the existence of a joint task force, merely echoing the claims made by Greek outlets. Meanwhile, the Times of Israel highlighted the recent trilateral agreement, recalling discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and President Nikos Christodoulides in Jerusalem.
During these talks, Netanyahu issued a stark warning, suggesting that those who aspire to reclaim historical territories should abandon their ambitions, a statement interpreted as a direct reference to Turkey.
In a further indication of the deepening military collaboration, Reuters reported that Greek military officials anticipate an increase in joint operations by 2026, with more frequent air and naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean. A senior Greek official noted that the military arrangement would include the transfer of knowledge from Israel to both Greece and Cyprus to counter various threats.
As the situation evolves, Greece is planning to participate in Israel’s upcoming Noble Dina naval exercise in the coming months, with Cyprus also involved in these preparations.
The opposition party Akel has raised concerns over the increasing military-political ties with Israel, cautioning that such decisions may overlook potential risks and ramifications. They expressed unease over the government’s approach to defence collaborations, particularly given the significant military investments Cyprus and Greece have made in Israeli missile systems.
