Great Sea Interconnector moves ahead
Israel pledges diplomatic backing for Greece, promising to engage Washington if needed
Greece is preparing to restart undersea cable surveys for the Great Sea Interconnector, an ambitious electricity link that aspires to connect Greece, Cyprus and Israel.
Athens is moving swiftly to resume operations, even in the waters east of the islands of Kasos and Karpathos, where progress had previously stalled.
The decision to proceed was made at the highest levels of government, despite internal disagreements over the technical details.
The consensus is that Greece cannot abandon a project that is vital for Cyprus’ energy security and that is fully backed by Israel and funded by the European Union.
Beyond energy concerns, the project carries geopolitical significance, as Athens seeks to counter Turkey’s stance that restricts Greek rights to six nautical miles of territorial waters. Greece argues that the 2020 maritime demarcation deal with Egypt legally establishes its rights in the area, unlike the Turkey-Libya memorandum, which Greece rejects as invalid.
To safeguard survey operations, the Greek Defense Ministry is coordinating a military escort for research vessels, signaling Athens’ determination to proceed with the scheme.
Meanwhile, France has agreed to maintain a discreet naval presence in the region, while joint military exercises between Greek and French forces are also under consideration.
On the diplomatic front, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is visiting Israel for talks with his counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. While officially unrelated to the Great Sea Interconnector, analysts see the meeting as a direct signal to Turkey.
Israeli officials have reportedly assured Athens that if tensions with Ankara escalate over the project, they will push Washington to intervene.
Meanwhile, American energy giant Chevron has expressed interest in gas exploration south of Crete, following a similar move by ExxonMobil.
The US company appears unfazed by Turkish claims to disputed waters, reinforcing Greece’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under international law.
The coming weeks will be critical, as Greece accelerates work on the electricity interconnector, potentially reshaping regional dynamics and affecting upcoming Greek-Turkish diplomatic talks.
