Israel has described the forthcoming launch of a joint maritime cybersecurity centre in Cyprus as a strategic milestone for regional cyber resilience.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate referred to the planned operation of the Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Cyprus, which is expected to be inaugurated later this year.
Trilateral framework and institutional oversight
The centre will operate under the auspices of Cyprus’ Digital Security Authority, in close coordination with the Israel National Cyber Directorate and the Greek National Cybersecurity Authority.
According to the Israeli statement, the facility will be based in Nicosia and aims to reinforce national and regional cyber resilience in the maritime sector across the three countries and the wider Mediterranean region.
The initiative implements what the statement described as a shared vision agreed during the Jerusalem Summit in December 2025 by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides.
Operational pillars of the centre
The centre will focus on four main pillars. The first concerns threat intelligence, monitoring and real-time information sharing on maritime-specific cyber threats.
The second relates to capacity building, including training programmes and advanced cyber range exercises simulating complex attacks on critical maritime infrastructure, ports and vessels.
The third pillar involves policy and regulation, including the formulation of international standards.
The fourth pillar focuses on innovation and research, seeking to connect deep-tech start-ups with maritime industry stakeholders to promote technological solutions.
Support for research and technological development
The statement adds that the centre is expected to act as a growth driver for the technological ecosystems of the three countries. It will promote cooperation between academia, industry and government bodies in research and development, while facilitating access to advanced defence solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises in the maritime sector.
According to the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, the centre aims not only to protect existing infrastructure but also to position the Mediterranean as a global hub for maritime technology innovation.