Mitsotakis and Christodoulides Meet Netanyahu Monday for 3+1 Summit on Eastern Mediterranean Energy

High-level diplomacy is set to take center stage in the Eastern Mediterranean as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for the 10th Trilateral Summit. The discussions will focus on energy cooperation, regional stability, and the strategic 3+1 framework involving potential U.S. participation.

The summit comes amid increased U.S. interest in the region, with former President Donald Trump advocating continued use of fossil fuels, signaling a potential reshaping of the Eastern Mediterranean energy map in the coming years. Greek and Cypriot officials view this as a critical moment to advance energy projects, interconnections, and regional integration.

According to a statement from Cyprus government spokesperson Leptibiotis, the summit carries significant political and institutional weight, occurring two years after the 9th Trilateral Summit in Nicosia on September 4, 2023, and following key developments since October 7, 2023. The meeting aims to reinforce the institutional maturity, strategic resilience, and continuity of the 3+1 format, which has become a pillar of regional cooperation and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The summit will address key areas of mutual interest, including energy, economy, defense, cybersecurity, maritime security, and regional connectivity. The leaders are expected to explore further strengthening the 3+1 framework with U.S. involvement, reinforcing the Eastern Mediterranean as a strategic, energy, and economic bridge. Emphasis will also be placed on energy infrastructure and projects, leveraging the recent EEZ delimitation agreement between Cyprus and Lebanon.

Additionally, Cyprus will highlight its commitment to active participation in stabilization efforts in the region, particularly in Gaza, encompassing humanitarian support, security issues, and post-conflict reconstruction, reflecting a multifaceted and responsible regional approach.

Ahead of the summit, President Christodoulides will hold bilateral meetings with Netanyahu and the Israeli Prime Minister, underscoring the high level of Greek-Cypriot-Israeli diplomatic and political engagement. Separate bilateral sessions between the Foreign and Energy Ministers of Cyprus and Israel are also planned.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis, speaking from Brussels ahead of the summit, stressed that the Greece-Cyprus-Israel trilateral brings together countries that act as pillars of stability in the wider Eastern Mediterranean. He noted the importance of the discussions, particularly in light of recent events in Gaza, and highlighted his upcoming visit to Ramallah to meet with the Palestinian Authority leadership.

The summit reflects the accelerating pace of Eastern Mediterranean energy developments, as seen in agreements between Israel and Egypt and the recent visit of top Trump administration officials to Athens, underscoring the region’s growing geopolitical and energy significance.

Source: pagenews.gr