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Just hours after their leaders wrapped up a high-level summit, the military chiefs of Greece, Cyprus and Israel quietly moved things from talk to action, signing a new joint defense plan that, for the first time, zeroes in on drones, electronic warfare and next-generation threats in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Meeting in Nicosia, the three chiefs of staff approved a joint action plan for 2026 and a renewed Greece-Israel defense cooperation program. The deal lays out a busy schedule of joint military exercises, shared training for special forces and closer cooperation on how to deal with modern threats, from unmanned aerial vehicles to cyber and electronic attacks.
According to Kathimerini's Stavros Ioannides, what stands out most is the new focus on counter-drone warfare. Israel will share hard-earned experience from recent conflicts, including lessons from advanced systems like Iron Beam, a laser weapon designed to shoot down drones, rockets and mortars. Both Athens and Nicosia are paying close attention, especially as Turkey has ramped up its use of unmanned systems in the region.
According to defense sources, the three countries will also study so-called “anti-access and area denial” tactics, military methods used to block or limit an opponent’s movement, drawing on recent fighting in the Middle East. It’s all part of a broader effort to boost deterrence and situational awareness across the region.
On the ground, sea and in the air, cooperation is set to intensify. Israeli fighter jets are expected to deploy to Greece again for the large-scale “Iniochos” air exercise, while Greece is weighing participation in Israel’s major naval drill “Noble Dina 2026” in the Eastern Mediterranean. Joint training for special operations units is also on the agenda.
Beyond exercises, the plans point to a growing web of air defense and missile systems, sometimes described by officials as a protective “dome” over the Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus has already acquired Israel’s Barak MX air defense system, while Greece is exploring upgrades that would replace aging weapons and improve early warning capabilities stretching from the Aegean to the Middle East.
In a brief statement, Greece’s General Staff said the agreements strengthen military cooperation and reinforce the three countries’ role as pillars of stability and security in a volatile region, a message clearly meant to be heard well beyond the meeting room in Nicosia.
