Joint exercises between Cyprus, Greece and Israel will take place as part of the programming of the Cyprus National Guard’s activities for 2026 with friendly and allied countries, and will include the organisation of bilateral, trilateral or other forms of exercises, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said.
He stated that the exercises between Cyprus, Greece and Israel will involve joint training of the three armed forces, professional development of personnel, joint military drills, and any other activities aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the three militaries.
Deeper defence cooperation
Palmas' statements came following a Reuters piece that said Greece, Israel and Cyprus will step up joint air and naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean in 2026, deepening their defence cooperation.
Citing Greek military officials and a senior source, Reuters said senior military officials from the three countries signed a joint action plan for defence cooperation last week in Cyprus, according Greece’s armed forces general staff (GEETHA) citied in the piece.
A senior Greek official familiar with the matter said the military deal would encompass joint naval and air exercises and the transfer of know-how from Israel to Greece and Cyprus to address both “asymmetrical” and “symmetrical” threats.
“Greece and Israel will intensify joint exercises after the ceasefire in Gaza, with Cyprus participating,” the official told Reuters, adding that Greece plans to join Israel’s Noble Dina naval exercise in the coming months in the eastern Mediterranean.
Beyond Israel and Greece
Palmas emphasised that the agreements Cyprus signs concern the upcoming year, 2026. Similarly, he said, exercises will also be conducted next year with Egypt, Jordan and other countries with which Cyprus maintains friendly and allied relations. He also recalled that at the end of November, a joint naval exercise involving Cyprus, Greece and Egypt had taken place.
Regarding the agreement signed in Cyprus by military officials from Cyprus, Greece and Israel, which was made public, Palmas explained that it relates to the conduct of the exercises as he described. He also noted that no dates for these exercises have been set yet, and that scheduling will be determined by the military staffs of the three countries, depending on operational needs and conditions.