Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides (l) and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (r) hold a joint press conference after a trilateral meeting at the Citadel of David Hotel, in Jerusalem, on Monday. [Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP]
“This cooperation has yielded tangible results, and we look forward to strengthening it,” Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during joint statements with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Jerusalem on Monday as part of the Israel-Greece-Cyprus trilateral diplomatic summit.
Mitsotakis emphasized the strategic significance of the tripartite format, noting that the collaboration among three democratic states promotes both regional stability and the prosperity of their peoples.
Addressing developments in Gaza, Mitsotakis highlighted emerging opportunities for peace, underlining that agreements require the responsibility of all parties and aim to strengthen regional security.
President Christodoulides stressed the growing momentum and maturity of the trilateral framework across multiple areas, while Netanyahu noted that the three countries cooperate closely in defense, too, asserting, “we are not seeking confrontation with anyone; we are seeking stability and peace.”
Referring to the assumption of the European presidency by Cyprus in January, he said that “we will continue to work together in a spirit of trust.”
Netanyahu said the three countries agreed to further strengthen their cooperation on security issues within the framework of the trilateral agreement and added that they intend to promote the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), an initiative aimed at connecting India with Europe via sea and rail routes in the Middle East.
“The countries are also cooperating in the field of defense, as the enemy is real,” he said, noting: “We are not looking for confrontation with anyone, we are looking for stability and peace.” “To all those who imagine that they will establish their empire and dominate our land, I say forget it. It will not happen,” he added.
Earlier on Monday, Mitsotakis visited Ramallah and met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, reaffirming Greece’s commitment to dialogue and long-term peace in Gaza.