Israel is moving to deepen energy cooperation with Cyprus, a directive outlined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the weekly cabinet meeting. The plan centers on strengthening regional collaboration with Cyprus and aligning with neighboring partners to bolster energy security and economic resilience. This step follows Netanyahu’s detailed briefing about a face-to-face encounter with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who visited Israel on May 11. The discussions highlighted a concerted effort to advance the Israel-Cyprus-Greece alliance among Middle Eastern democracies, a trilateral framework that has gained momentum over recent years as a regional energy corridor.
Netanyahu underscored that the alliance formed in recent years carries significant potential, particularly in positioning Israel as a major energy player on the European stage. The conversations with the Cypriot leader emphasized energy strategy as a central focus, signaling a practical commitment to projects that could redefine the flow of natural gas in the region and beyond. The dialogue addressed how partnerships within this triad could contribute to broader stability and shared prosperity through robust energy infrastructure and cooperative governance.
The centerpiece of the plan is a cross-border gas movement that would link Israeli gas fields to Europe via a pipeline network and an LNG facility to be established in Cyprus. This envisioned pipeline would channel domestically produced gas toward European markets, with liquid natural gas facilities enabling flexible delivery and storage capacity. The idea is to create a seamless chain from extraction to liquefaction to transmission, leveraging Cyprus as a strategic LNG hub that can serve multiple European entry points when market conditions permit. This approach reflects a long-term strategy to diversify energy routes, reduce dependence on a single supply corridor, and enhance bargaining position within international energy discussions.
Netanyahu highlighted that this connectivity would elevate Israel’s economic profile and strengthen its role as a reliable international energy supplier. By integrating gas production with European demand, Israel could reinforce its standing as a credible partner in energy security, contributing to stable pricing and predictable supply for consumers and industries alike. In the ministerial remarks, there was emphasis on the need for reliable and affordable energy to support growth, manufacturing, and critical services across Europe, including in sectors sensitive to price volatility and supply interruptions.
European energy needs were cited as a key driver for accelerating cross-border cooperation. The government stressed that efficient and cost-effective gas delivery from Israel to Europe would not only benefit European customers but also reinforce Israel’s own competitive position in the global energy market. The commentary recognized the importance of building resilient energy infrastructure, expanding LNG capacity, and coordinating regulatory and logistical frameworks among the participating states to ensure timely execution and ongoing reliability. The broader message from the discussions is that regional alliances can deliver tangible economic advantages while contributing to regional peace and stability, a principle that has guided the Israel-Cyprus-Greece framework since its inception.
In related developments, Israel and the European Union have signaled ongoing cooperation on gas exports, highlighting the mutual interest in diversifying supply sources and enhancing energy security across the bloc. While specifics of contracts and timelines remain under discussion, the overarching intent is clear: to create an integrated energy corridor that leverages Israeli gas resources and Cypriot infrastructural capacity to meet European demand in a market-aware, commercially viable manner. The parties involved are navigating technical, regulatory, and financial considerations to turn this vision into a practical and scalable system for the long term, with monitoring and assessment mechanisms planned to ensure efficiency and transparency [TASS].