Mitsotakis Visits Israel as Greece Revives Strategic Energy Link

Athens is preparing to restart exploratory operations for the Greece–Cyprus–Israel electricity interconnection project, known as the Great Sea Interconnector, within days.

The initiative, which had stalled east of the Greek islands of Kasos and Karpathos, is now moving back into motion amid a flurry of political and logistical activity in the Greek

capital. This high-voltage undersea cable, which aims to link the Israeli and Cypriot grids with mainland Europe via Greece, is just one part of Athens’ broader energy strategy — one that also includes renewed interest in offshore hydrocarbon exploration southeast of Crete and efforts to finalize long-overdue maritime spatial planning.

The decision to push ahead has been made at the highest political level in Greece, despite some disagreements within the government on technical and operational aspects. There is, however, full consensus on the project's strategic importance. Greece sees it as essential not only for Cyprus’s energy security — the island remains isolated from broader electricity networks — but also as a project of geopolitical significance. Israel is a firm backer of the interconnector, viewing it as a crucial link to the European Union's energy infrastructure, and the EU itself is providing funding for the initiative.

Athens is also acutely aware of the broader geopolitical implications. The Greek government is determined not to appear as if it accepts Ankara’s long-standing position that Greece’s sovereign rights extend no further than six nautical miles from its coast. This is especially important in this case, as the interconnector operates in international waters and does not touch on sovereignty per se. The area in question, south of Kasos and Karpathos, falls within a maritime boundary agreed upon between Greece and Egypt in 2020 — an accord considered legally solid under international law, unlike the controversial maritime memorandum signed between Turkey and Libya.

Plans are now advancing for the operational return of research vessels to the region. Greece’s Ministry of National Defense is reportedly preparing to deploy naval and air units to escort the survey ships and ensure the project proceeds smoothly. Beyond providing protection, this military presence is also intended as a signal of Greece’s resolve to follow through on its strategic plans — particularly in a zone where operations were previously halted last July following a brief diplomatic crisis.

France, a close strategic partner of Greece, has agreed to maintain a low-profile military presence in the wider area, likely through naval vessels already stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean. While specific details remain under wraps, possible scenarios include joint exercises involving the Greek Navy and Air Force in international waters, with French participation. One possibility is the involvement of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which recently conducted exercises with India’s armed forces in the Indian Ocean.

France’s role in the project is not just geopolitical but also commercial. The French company Nexans is directly involved in the Great Sea Interconnector and is responsible for cable manufacturing and marine operations, previously using Italian-flagged vessels.

Israel’s involvement is equally strategic. While Tel Aviv supports the project for energy security reasons — specifically, to connect with the European power grid — it also views it as part of a broader push to deepen regional alliances, especially in light of tensions with Turkey. The project also dovetails with Israel’s interest in larger regional infrastructure schemes such as the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC). Greek and Israeli interests further intersect when it comes to security concerns and the potential re-entry of Turkey into the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program, a decision that could ultimately rest with former President Donald Trump, should he return to office.

In this context, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is making a brief, high-level visit to Israel, where he will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and be received by President Isaac Herzog. While the official agenda makes no direct reference to the interconnector, the timing and symbolism of the visit are widely seen as sending a clear message — both to Israel and to Turkey. According to diplomatic sources, Israel has already given assurances to Athens that it would be willing to raise the issue with the White House if tensions escalate further.

In a parallel development, U.S. energy giant Chevron has expressed interest in oil and gas exploration south of Crete, in offshore blocks that were originally offered under Greek legislation in 2014. These blocks partly overlap with the area claimed by Turkey and Libya under their 2019 maritime agreement. Chevron’s interest, following a similar move by ExxonMobil, is seen both as a reflection of shifting U.S. energy policy and as a tacit recognition of Greece’s maritime claims in line with international law — including full maritime rights for islands, a principle Ankara disputes.

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