The governments of the United States, the State of Israel, the Hellenic Republic, and the Republic of Cyprus met yesterday in Jerusalem to affirm their shared commitment to promoting peace, stability, security, and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo underlined U.S. support for the trilateral mechanism established by Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, noting the importance of increased cooperation.
According to the release by the State Department, “The leaders agreed to increase regional cooperation; to support energy independence and security; and to defend against external malign influences in the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East. They welcomed the recent natural gas finds in the Eastern Mediterranean and its potential to contribute to energy security and diversification.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took to Twitter to share photos and praise the “productive meeting” with the leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Israel in Jerusalem.
“The US strongly supports our democratic allies in their endeavor to expand cooperation and invest in the future of their energy markets,” Pompeo added.
While not clarified or mentioned in the agreement specifically, many see the alliance forming as a direct response to Turkish aggression in the region.
Endy Zemenides, executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council connects the dots and makes a direct link.
“Secretary Pompeo’s participation in the latest Greece-Cyprus-Israel trilateral is significant milestone in tinge Eastern Mediterranean coming together as a political and economic region,” Zemenides told The Pappas Post.
“It is also a clear signal to Turkey – one of the actors identified during this trilateral as a ‘malign influence’ in the region. Just a few years ago, it looked like Washington was deferring to Ankara in the region and relying on Turkey as its top ally there. No more. The American foreign policy establishment may have learned the lesson late, but they’ve learned it: Turkey is an unreliable ally and the US needs new “go to” partners in the region. The Greece-Cyprus-Israel alliance is shaping up to be such a partner.”
