Greek Prime Minister is set to meet his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to meet his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem. Under normal circumstances, such a visit would not be particularly noteworthy. However, with an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant hanging over Netanyahu, Mitsotakis’ trip helps shift the focus onto the key agenda items rather than diplomatic complexities.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 PM, and earlier in the day, Mitsotakis will also meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Strategic Greece-Israel Relations

Greek-Israeli ties have evolved into a deep and strategic partnership across multiple sectors. Just recently, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar was in Athens for talks with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and his Cypriot counterpart, Konstantinos Kombos, regarding the GSI electricity interconnection project. Israel reaffirmed its commitment to the initiative, with its ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, reiterating the same stance in a recent interview.

While energy cooperation will be discussed in Jerusalem, the main outcome will likely be a reaffirmation of political commitment, leaving technical details to the respective ministers. The meeting will also cover broader geopolitical developments, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean and Syria.

Defense Cooperation: Greece’s Anti-Drone Shield

According to sources, one of the most critical topics on the table will be defense collaboration. Discussions will include Greece’s plans for an anti-drone defense system, which it aims to have operational by 2027.

Mitsotakis is expected to outline Greece’s long-term 12-year defense strategy in Parliament on Wednesday. Following that, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias will provide further details in a closed session of the Parliamentary Committee on Armament Programs. A key pillar of this strategy will be the involvement of Greece’s defense industry.

In this context, Mitsotakis will hold meetings with executives from leading Israeli defense companies to explore deeper cooperation and potential joint defense production initiatives with Greece’s defense sector.

Strengthening U.S. Ties Through Israel

Beyond bilateral cooperation, Greece’s relationship with Israel also plays a strategic role in its engagement with the United States. Amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and unpredictable U.S. foreign policy decisions, Israel remains Washington’s closest ally. Netanyahu’s close ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump further add to the equation.

From Greece’s perspective, a strong partnership with Israel serves as a “gateway” to the White House. Senior diplomatic sources note that Turkey frequently faces pushback from the influential Jewish lobby in Washington when trying to reposition itself in the U.S. defense procurement landscape.

Mitsotakis has maintained a careful stance toward Trump, while also recently opposing the deployment of European troops to Ukraine—an initiative led by France and the UK. He made it clear that Greece will not participate in such plans.

As part of these broader regional discussions, Mitsotakis is expected to emphasize the importance of enhancing trilateral cooperation between Greece, Israel, and Cyprus, including within the 3+1 framework with the United States.

Gaza and the Palestinian Issue

In the wake of recent four-party talks in Paris and the election of a new Lebanese president, Mitsotakis is expected to push for maintaining the ceasefire in southern Lebanon. He will also emphasize the need for the release of hostages and an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Additionally, the Greek Prime Minister is likely to reaffirm Greece’s support for peace efforts in Gaza and advocate for a political process leading to a two-state solution, ensuring Israel’s security.

Greek government sources note that a meeting between Mitsotakis and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas was not possible due to scheduling conflicts on both sides.

Source: pagenews.gr