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Cyprus PIO/TPS-IL on 18 December, 2025
Cyprus Defense Minister Denies Plans for Joint Rapid Reaction Force With Israel and Greece
Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Cypriot Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas denied to The Press Service of Israel that there is any official plan or agreement for the formation of a joint rapid reaction force between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel. Reports of such a force being created swirled in advance of Monday’s tripartite summit in Jerusalem.
“In regard to the specific publication, I have nothing to add; I do not confirm it. No such meeting with such an agenda has taken place. Contacts and meetings take place on a daily basis, whether they are made public or not, but such a specific issue has not existed and does not exist,” Palmas told TPS-IL.
“Of course, the relationship between Cyprus and Israel, or Greece and Israel, or Greece, Israel, and Cyprus is well known. We are allied countries, whether this concerns the training of personnel or bilateral and trilateral exercises. After all, this is how allied or friendly countries operate with each other,” Palmas explained.
This denial follows media reports in Israel and Greece about a tripartite brigade-level force consisting of 2,500 soldiers from the eastern Mediterranean countries. The force would, according to the reports, cover ground, air, and naval operations.
Greek media initially ran the story, citing Israel’s public broadcaster Kan. The latter had reported on an “unusual” meeting between Israeli Air Force Chief Tomer Bar and high-ranking officials from Cyprus and Greece. The aim, according to Kan, was to strengthen cooperation in eastern Mediterranean airspace while countering Turkey’s efforts to consolidate its presence and influence. However, Kan made no mention of forming a force.
Greek reports citing Kan then reported, without verification, plans to create a rapid intervention force.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides are expected to discuss energy cooperation, protecting offshore assets, and deterring Turkey.
