Strategic Consequences of Tripartite Defense Summit of Greece, Cyprus, Zionist Regime

Strategic Council Online - The tripartite meeting of Defense Ministers of Greece Panagiotopoulos, of Cyprus Charalambos Petrides, and of Israel Gantz, was held in Nicosia. Enhancing the interoperability of the Greek, Cypriot and Israeli armed forces and making full use of each other’s relative resources and advantages in areas of mutual interest, such as common training programs, military exercises, military intelligence sharing, maritime security and cybersecurity, were announced to be the common goal of the three sides. The cooperation, as they say, will help better prepare their troops, help create more jobs and boost security. Mahmoud Fazeli - Expert on Europe Affairs

According to the Greek Minister of Defense: The strong ties of our three countries are based on common principles and values, and it is our common vision and aim to create an environment and conditions of stability, security and prosperity in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean. It is our common goal to implement a long-term, coherent, and substantial strategic cooperation, in accordance with the International Law and the principles of good neighbourly relations with all the countries of the region.

The three ministers agreed that trilateral cooperation should be further developed and that the possibility of expanding such cooperation in the form of a “3+1” with other countries that share common values ​​and goals for the future transregional status should be considered. This framework includes the United States as well, and the US presence is of particular importance for the security and stability of the Eastern Mediterranean. The three sides will work closely together on a gas transfer project as tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean continue over the right to explore offshore gas resources.

The Greek side, at a press conference, took the opportunity of the meeting to condemn Turkey’s illegal, provocative and unilateral actions in the maritime zones of Greece and Cyprus which constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of good neighbourly relations. He said Turkey’s actions would undermine regional stability and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean. According to the Greek Defense Minister, the US presence in the Eastern Mediterranean is of “special importance” for the stability of the region. In recent years, Greece has repeatedly underlined the trilateral relations of Cyprus, Greece and Israel as a guarantor of security in the region, and this cooperation creates new geography for understanding that is completely different from the old stereotypes, in which case a new map of the region will be formed. The Cypriot defence minister also claimed that all the three sides were seeking expansion of their partnership with an aim of including other countries, such as the United States.

Israeli Defense Minister referred to the large-scale industry cooperation that will bolster defence abilities and create thousands of jobs for all three economies and claimed that Israel always prefers dialogue over military power and extends its hand to anyone who desires to join the path of peace but at the same time said his country cannot ignore threats against its citizens. ‘Even now, our forces are on heightened security alert across our borders.’

In his view, the tripartite cooperation has led to stability, collaboration and peace across the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as to warm ties between the peoples. At this historic moment of international reconciliation, Israel is more committed than ever to supporting countries that have chosen peace over conflict and interaction over aggression. Unfortunately, not all countries have chosen this path, and peace-loving nations must be united and ready to jointly confront the threats posed by radical regimes and terrorist organizations that have chosen aggression and violence. He claims that the three sides face challenges and threats and, of course, common interests, and predicts that trilateral cooperation will increase in 2021 and cooperation in the fields of advanced technologies, economy and tourism will also develop.

Following Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean waters and its efforts to find new sources of energy and in the aftermath of escalation of tensions between Athens and Ankara and lack of European support for Greece, this country and Greek-inhabited Cyprus have been forced to compensate for their military weakness by turning to the Israeli regime. For more than a year, Turkey has been trying to explore hydrocarbon resources by sending several reconnaissance ships to the Eastern Mediterranean. Despite protests from the international community and political officials in the Mediterranean and the European Union, Turkey considers its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean to be due to its legitimacy in using its maritime borders in accordance with international law.

Following the holding of the tripartite meeting and victory of former Prime Minister of the Turkish-inhabited Cypriot, Ersin Tatar, a close ally of Turkey in the presidential election, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a visit which was described as “controversial”, called for the formation of “two independent states” in Cyprus. He called the formation of the two governments in Cyprus “the only solution to the conflict”. His plan to form the two independent states on the island of Cyprus met with a sharp reaction from Greek Cypriots, with President Nicos Anastasiades calling Erdogan’s remarks a “new sedition”.

Evidence shows that the Greek government is in talks with the UAE to join the trilateral regional cooperation of Greece and Cyprus. During the recent visit of the Greek Prime Minister to the UAE, the two governments reaffirmed their readiness to strengthen defence cooperation and explore new perspectives, with an aim of effectively addressing common challenges that threaten regional and global peace, security and stability. Although the UAE is not a manufacturer of weapons systems, it has recently played an important role in providing Greece with access to the necessary equipment and spare parts, such as for the operation of the Greek Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jets. It is estimated that the Greek Air Force could use the UAE’s strategic reserves to supply French SCALP-EG missiles, which are intended to strike pre-determined targets and are fired by a variety of military aircraft.

Greece and the United Arab Emirates have criticized Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean as destabilizing and condemned Turkey’s violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus. They also called Turkey’s actions in the Middle East, the Southeastern Mediterranean and the South Caucasus region aggressive and a clear violation of international law.

Evidence suggests that due to the escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, the plan for strengthening the Greek Air Force with Rafale and F-35 fighter jets and drones is likely to go ahead in 2021 and is expected to be debated in the parliament in December. Greece can obtain six second-hand F-35 fighter jets and six Rafale aircraft by 2021. The Greek conservative government plans to purchase 18 French Rafale fighter jets and 18 to 24 new and second-hand F-35 fighter jets from the United States and insists on receiving six second-hand F-35 fighter jets by 2021. Athens also sent three C-130s to Israel for repairs to be joined to its Air Force fleet. Greece, in addition to the provision of the Israeli Heron drone, has also entered into negotiations with Tel Aviv on the provision of anti-drone system.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST CONTENT

Zionist Regime’s Post-War Map for Gaza

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Middle East issues said: After nearly 150 days have passed since the attacks of Israeli planes on Gaza and the unprecedented genocide in this city, regional and international efforts to end the Gaza crisis have intensified.

Reasons for Inaction & Inefficiency of Intl Organizations in Providing Aid to Gaza

Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues said: With the start of the Gaza war, many major powers and international organizations not only did not take honest action to support the defenseless Palestinian people, but instead, with their support for the actions of the Zionist regime, they caused their crimes to increase over the past five months.

France and the Two-State Solution in Occupied Territories

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on regional issues said: The announcement of France’s agreement with the formation of two states in the Occupied Territories is a measure to raise the international image of France and reduce domestic pressure on the Macron government for inaction against the Israeli crimes in Gaza.

The Prospect of US Military Withdrawal from Iraq

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Although most currents, politicians and even ordinary people in Iraq call for withdrawal of American military forces from their country, there are sometimes differences of opinion regarding the time of this withdrawal. On the one hand, Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, the Prime Minister of Iraq, is very serious in demanding the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Still, he wants to achieve this goal through “negotiation and political deal”. On the other hand, the Iraqi Resistance groups want the Americans to leave this country as soon as possible. The American side is also talking about a military withdrawal from Iraq in the next three years.

Russia’s Multifaceted Relations with Neighbors

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said: After Russia attacked Ukraine two years ago, the country’s relations with some of its European neighbors were severely disturbed in such a way that a clear future cannot be imagined for it.

Solution to Get Out of FATF Blacklist and Get Rid of Its Heavy Costs?

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The Financial Action Task Force, FATF, announced on Friday, February 23, that the name of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains on the “blacklist” of this international organization. A decision that was not unexpected for the authorities of our country. According to the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, one day before the release of the FATF statement, due to the current sanctions, Iran is looking for its own FATF, as it uses other tools instead of SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications). On this basis, it seems that while the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon were removed from the “Grey List” of FATF in the previous reviews in June 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not trying to be exempted from the blacklist. But what kind of organization is FATF, and why are some in Iran against joining it? And what is the way out of this situation?

Loading

Últimas publicaciones

Zionist Regime’s Post-War Map for Gaza

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Middle East issues said: After nearly 150 days have passed since the attacks of Israeli planes on Gaza and the unprecedented genocide in this city, regional and international efforts to end the Gaza crisis have intensified.

Reasons for Inaction & Inefficiency of Intl Organizations in Providing Aid to Gaza

Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues said: With the start of the Gaza war, many major powers and international organizations not only did not take honest action to support the defenseless Palestinian people, but instead, with their support for the actions of the Zionist regime, they caused their crimes to increase over the past five months.

France and the Two-State Solution in Occupied Territories

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on regional issues said: The announcement of France’s agreement with the formation of two states in the Occupied Territories is a measure to raise the international image of France and reduce domestic pressure on the Macron government for inaction against the Israeli crimes in Gaza.

The Prospect of US Military Withdrawal from Iraq

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Although most currents, politicians and even ordinary people in Iraq call for withdrawal of American military forces from their country, there are sometimes differences of opinion regarding the time of this withdrawal. On the one hand, Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, the Prime Minister of Iraq, is very serious in demanding the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Still, he wants to achieve this goal through “negotiation and political deal”. On the other hand, the Iraqi Resistance groups want the Americans to leave this country as soon as possible. The American side is also talking about a military withdrawal from Iraq in the next three years.

Russia’s Multifaceted Relations with Neighbors

Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert said: After Russia attacked Ukraine two years ago, the country’s relations with some of its European neighbors were severely disturbed in such a way that a clear future cannot be imagined for it.

Solution to Get Out of FATF Blacklist and Get Rid of Its Heavy Costs?

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The Financial Action Task Force, FATF, announced on Friday, February 23, that the name of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains on the “blacklist” of this international organization. A decision that was not unexpected for the authorities of our country. According to the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, one day before the release of the FATF statement, due to the current sanctions, Iran is looking for its own FATF, as it uses other tools instead of SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications). On this basis, it seems that while the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon were removed from the “Grey List” of FATF in the previous reviews in June 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not trying to be exempted from the blacklist. But what kind of organization is FATF, and why are some in Iran against joining it? And what is the way out of this situation?

Loading