Netanyahu in a Message to Erdogan: "Those Who Dream of Establishing Empires in the Region Should Forget It"

SadaNews - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel, Greece, and Cyprus have agreed to expand military and security cooperation among them, in a message directed at regional entities, primarily Turkey, without naming it explicitly.

Netanyahu's comments came during a press conference held with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides at the conclusion of a joint summit held in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu said: "We have agreed to expand military and security cooperation among us."

The Israeli Prime Minister issued a direct warning, without naming, to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stating: "To those who dream of establishing empires and dominating our lands, I say: forget it. That will not happen. Don’t even think about it."

He added: "We are committed and able to defend ourselves, and this cooperation enhances our capabilities. Together, as democracies in the Eastern Mediterranean, we will enhance security, prosperity, and freedom."

Netanyahu also addressed Iran, warning against any military action against Israel.

He said: "We know that Iran has been conducting exercises recently, and we are monitoring it, and any action against Israel will be met with a very severe response."

The Cypriot President stated that his country, Israel, and Greece emphasized the importance of the three countries' integration into the regional system in cooperation with the United States.

Christodoulides added during the joint press conference, "We stressed the value of the integration of the three countries alongside the United States."

He continued: "We discussed defense and security cooperation issues, and we can do much more and achieve significant accomplishments in areas such as combating terrorism, cybersecurity, and energy security while supporting the stability of the region."

The summit comes amid a broader regional context characterized by tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, including relations with Turkey.

Earlier today, Netanyahu met with Mitsotakis as part of the "trilateral political summit" that includes Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, which is hosted by Netanyahu.

A statement from the Israeli government said that Netanyahu and Mitsotakis initially held a closed-door bilateral meeting.

This was followed by an expanded meeting attended by the foreign ministers of the three countries and other senior officials.

Netanyahu said in a statement released: "Today I held an important political meeting in Jerusalem with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis within the framework of the Israel-Greece-Cyprus summit that we are hosting in Jerusalem."

He added that "the alliance between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus is a cornerstone of responsibility, stability, and shared interests in a region full of challenges."

Netanyahu continued: "We will continue to work together, firmly and resolutely, to enhance security, promote economic development, and deepen the ties between our peoples."

In contrast, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met today with Syrian officials in the capital, Damascus, in an official visit that discussed bilateral relations and regional developments.

Fidan arrived in Damascus accompanied by Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of National Intelligence Ibrahim Kalin, where the delegation held a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara.

Ankara stated that the visit aimed to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries, in addition to discussing the existing agreement between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

During a press conference held with his Syrian counterpart As'ad al-Shaybani, Fidan stated that the two sides discussed "proposals aimed at enhancing bilateral relations, as well as regional security and stability in Syria."

Fidan added to reporters: "The stability of Syria means the stability of Turkey," referring to the interconnection between the security and political situations in both countries.

The Turkish Foreign Minister also addressed the ongoing discussions between Syria and Israel, expressing hope that they would lead to a "result."

He emphasized that "progress in this regard is crucial" for the "stability of the region and the stability of Syria."

In this context, Fidan urged Israel, "instead of pursuing an expansionist policy in the region," to "adopt an approach based on mutual agreement and understanding."

In related news, the website of the newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" reported on Sunday that the political level in Israel has informed the military leadership of an actual trend to consider the idea of establishing a "joint intervention force" with Greece and Cyprus, and directed to begin initial planning for it, without taking any executive steps at this stage, given the sensitivity of the idea and its regional implications.

According to the report, this trend comes despite an official Israeli denial of reports published by a Greek news website about the intention to establish a joint military force, alongside strengthening military cooperation between Israel and both Athens and Nicosia, which includes joint air, land, and naval exercises within an expanding regional partnership.

The report indicated that the Israeli army is awaiting direct instructions from Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Israel Katz, while the political level has instructed that the planning stage should not be exceeded, given that the potential mission of any such force, if established in the future, would be to confront Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to "Wynet", this confrontation includes protecting the interests and economic waters of both Israel and Greece and Cyprus, as well as Egypt, in issues related to gas and oil extraction and fishing rights, in addition to disputes related to Turkey's demands and regional energy projects, topped by the gas pipeline to Europe, which Turkey opposes.