The Israeli and Hellenic navies conducted a joint maritime exercise in the Mediterranean two weeks ago, the IDF confirme...

The Israeli and Hellenic navies conducted a joint maritime exercise in the Mediterranean two weeks ago, the IDF confirmed Thursday. Two Israeli missile ships and two Hellenic Navy frigates took part, running scenarios that included emergency response drills and identifying and reacting to maritime threats. Naval personnel shared operational knowledge throughout the exercise. The commander of Flotilla 3, identified as Captain T., said the collaboration strengthens Israel's ability to protect its maritime borders and reinforces the Israeli Navy as a strategic asset. The drills were framed as part of ongoing cooperation between the two navies aimed at improving how well they can operate together in real scenarios. The exercises are tied to a broader agreement signed in late 2025, when Israel, Greece, and Cyprus formalized trilateral agreements specifically aimed at countering Turkish influence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Both Israel and Greece have expressed growing concern over Turkish expansionism in the region. The timing is significant. Turkey has been increasingly assertive in the Eastern Mediterranean, pressing claims that conflict with Greek, Cypriot, and Israeli interests alike. The three-nation alignment signals that the pushback is no longer just diplomatic. These kinds of joint drills are designed to ensure the two navies can operate as a single coordinated force if a situation demands it, not just as parallel partners responding to the same threat separately. #Greece #Israel #EasternMediterranean