President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday his shared cooperation with Israel and Greece in issues such as energy and defence remained strong and unwavering.

Christodoulides was in Israel for a one-day visit for the Cyprus-Greece-Israel summit and met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

“Our countries are three predictable and reliable countries in a region of great geopolitical importance and despite the deep geopolitical challenges and pressures in the field of security, our cooperation has not wavered,” Christodoulides said after the meeting with Netanyahu and Mitsotakis.

He indicated a future strengthening of trilateral ties, adding there were “no limits to the prospects of cooperation” between the three countries, and highlighting their interconnectedness in the fields of defence, security, economy and energy.

Netanyahu, in a post on X, said he was “determined” to deepen the ties between the three countries and people.

“We will continue to work together, consistently and with determination, to strengthen security, promote economic development, and deepen the ties between our countries and our peoples,” he wrote.

In a joint statement following their meeting, the three leaders expressed their commitment to the further strengthening of their trilateral cooperation in matters of security and resilience, stressing that the region was at a “historical turning point.”

“We recognise that our region is at a historic turning point, with the opportunity to usher in an era of stability, prosperity and cooperation that stretches from India, through the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, to Europe,” the three said.

This “joint vision of progress, security, stability and peace”, the leader said, was based on the “historical heritage of the peoples that binds them, their common interests and their common values.”

“To ensure the realisation of this vision, we reaffirm the need for coordinated action to overcome existing and emerging challenges,” the statement continued, announcing plans for further cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Israel in the areas of defence, security and military.

The three went on to say that they recognised Cyprus’ and Greece’s humanitarian contributions, including the Amalthea plan, and called for the implementation of Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

“We are determined to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians safely, exclusively through coordinated channels and without being misappropriated by malicious actors,” the three said, before affirming Israel’s right to self defence.

The leaders said they “reject the unfounded allegations against Israel”, and called for the release of the last remaining Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, as well as the disarmament of Hamas in accordance with the agreed framework.

In regard to energy, the three announced their commitment for the continuation of further joint projects spanning from natural gas development to electricity interconnections, including the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI).

Cyprus’ upcoming EU Council Presidency was described by the three leaders as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Israel as “key partners.”

“Strengthening and broadening the circle of peace between Israel and the Arab world is the promise of a more secure and prosperous region,” the leaders said.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the expansion of the Abraham Accords, an agreement aimed at normalising diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab states, adding that they welcomed the recent progress in the dialogue between Israel and Lebanon as partly exemplified in the US-mediated agreements of November 2024.

“We are committed to deepening cultural, educational, and academic exchanges, fostering mutual understanding and friendship between our societies,” the leaders concluded.

Christodoulides had earlier in the day met with Herzog who emphasised that Cyprus’ geopolitical position in the region was of crucial importance for the functionality of the region and “constitutes a bridge of peace”, highlighting that Israelis were “great admirers of Cyprus”.

Herzog noted that the bilateral relationship between Cyprus and Israel has strengthened in recent years, stressing that the prospects for further cooperation were great with both the Republic and Greece, as well as other countries in the region.

Christodoulides, for his part, said that he was looking forward to further agreements strengthening the strategic relationship between the countries during the summit.

He added that during the summer, more than 180 flights connected both countries, highlighting the aviation traffic as an indicator of the close relationship between Cyprus and Israel.

The president said that bringing the EU closer to the region was one of the Republic’s key aims during the upcoming EU Council Presidency, starting on January 1, emphasising that Cyprus had positioned itself clearly from the beginning of the outbreak of the October 2023 war, fully supporting the return of all hostages.

He then invited the Israeli president for a visit to Cyprus, an offer which Herzog immediately accepted.

Christodoulides arrived in Israel in the early afternoon and was expected to return to the island late on Monday.

Mitsotakis, as part of his visit on Monday, also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, expressing Greece’s support for a two state solution and the Palestinian authority as the “sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people”.

He added that Greece was a “friend of all states in the region”, stressing the country was ready to facilitate dialogue.

Abbas, thanking Mitsotakis for Greece’s support, emphasised the need for the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, as well as the UN Security Council Resolution 2803 for a Gaza ceasefire.

He said that the latter were imminent to prevent further displacement, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli miliary forces, proceed with reconstruction efforts and allow for the Palestinian authorities to assume its responsibilities.