Israel scrambles in secret summits with Greece, Cyprus as Türkiye's power grows

Israel has reportedly intensified undisclosed security dialogues with Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration in Southern Cyprus, driven by mounting concern over Türkiye's expanding military and strategic footprint in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. According to a report by Greece's Kathimerini newspaper, these confidential meetings aim to forge a joint response to what Tel Aviv perceives as a challenge to its operational freedom.

Secret meetings and regional anxieties

The report indicates that two separate high-level meetings involving senior Israeli, Greek, and Greek Cypriot military officials were held recently—one in Tel Aviv and another at an undisclosed location outside Israel. Israeli authorities allegedly expressed acute concern that Türkiye's ongoing investments in air power, radar systems, and air defense capabilities could significantly restrict Israel's "room for maneuver" in the Eastern Mediterranean. Officials quoted stated, "Türkiye is strengthening its air presence, our influence will diminish," and openly conveyed these fears to their Greek and Greek Cypriot counterparts.

Beyond the Mediterranean: fears over Syria and Iran

The discussions reportedly extended beyond maritime concerns to address wider Middle Eastern security. Israeli officials are apprehensive that Türkiye's heightened presence in southern Türkiye and northern Syria could potentially limit the operational pathways for Israeli air force missions targeting locations in Syria and Iran. This perceived constraint on military reach has reportedly "sounded alarm bells" in Tel Aviv, prompting a strategic pivot towards deepening defense cooperation with Athens and Nicosia as a counterbalance.

Deepening military cooperation as a tactical response

In line with this reported strategic shift, tangible military collaboration has already increased. Last week, Israeli infantry units conducted an urban warfare exercise with the Greek Army's 71st Airborne Brigade in Kilkis, Greece. Furthermore, Israel is set to participate in the Greek Air Force's annual "Iniochos" multinational air exercise. These developments underscore a realignment of security partnerships in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Türkiye's assertive and independent foreign policy under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues to reshape regional dynamics, compelling other actors to recalibrate their own strategic alliances.