Israel and the other Abraham Accord countries are making a move towards stabilising the Eastern Mediterranean region and saving it from the continuous threats of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s adventurism. Israel and Greece have signed a defence deal worth $1.65 billion, according to the Israeli Defence Ministry on Sunday.
Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence contractor, will establish an international training centre in Greece to train the Greek Air Force over a 22-year period. The exact start date of the project was not specified. According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the agreement includes providing Greece with a new M-346 training aircraft, while Elbit Systems will be responsible for maintaining all training aircraft.
The dynamics in the Middle East have taken a different direction. This comes after the Biden Administration took a sharp turn with respect to the USA’s policy priorities for the region. The Biden administration is overtly indulging in the appeasement of Iran and it does not seem to be mind abandoning its own allies in the process. However, with these geopolitical earthquakes, ripples are being felt by the neighbouring countries too. In February it was reported that Greece signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia for the transfer, installation and operation of a Greek Patriot anti-aircraft system, according to Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. However, he specified that it is a defensive technology and thus, the agreement was signed for defence purpose only.
Recently, the foreign ministers of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Greece and Cyprus met in Paphos, Cyprus on Friday, as per the Israeli Foreign Ministry statement. The ministers discussed economic and security issues, the pandemic and possible travel corridors to encourage tourism, the statement said. They also met with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades.
Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are regional partners who work together on economic issues such as energy and gas in the Mediterranean Sea. They still have a grudge against Turkey, which is attempting to extend its influence in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Last month, the three countries held a naval exercise as a sign of their growing military relations.
Given the kind of treatment Greece and Cyprus are getting at the hands of the European Union in relations to Turkey has not been heartening for these countries. So, the Israel-led Middle East block has started knocking at Europe’s door with the inclusion of Cyprus and Greece, leaving Iran and Turkey thoroughly shell-shocked. A formidable alliance of six countries – Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Greece and Cyprus is in the making and the way in which things are panning out, the alliance of these countries are going to map the geopolitical game of the Eastern Mediterranean region.