Israel, Greece and Cyprus are tightening their security alignment to deter Turkey. Officials in Jerusalem view this framework as a strategic triangle designed to send a clear warning message to Ankara, Ynet reports.
The alliance is taking shape as military friction in the East Med intensifies. Turkish fighter jets recently violated Greek airspace, increasing regional tensions.
Israeli sources say that massive arms sales to Greece are on the table, as well as the expansion of joint military drills. The objective is to push Turkey to reconsider its aggressive military posture.
For now, Israeli officials are denying Greek media reports about a joint rapid intervention force, insisting that a formal defense pact is not being discussed.
However, Israel and its allies wish to improve their readiness and send a strong message of deterrence. Last week, Air Force Chief Tomer Bar met with senior Greek and Cypriot officers to discuss strategic cooperation, Kan News reported.
Military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai notes that Turkey’s Air Force is relatively weak, and that combining the military power of Greece and Cyprus with Israel’s air power and intel capabilities could tilt the regional balance.
This would force President Erdogan to weigh escalation far more carefully, Ben Yishai wrote. But for Israel, the deeper goal is to dial up the pressure on Turkey’s flank and disrupt its attempts to project military power closer to Israel’s borders.
More to come as this tense regional dynamic continues to evolve.
