Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are placing a massive bet on a new trade route to rewrite the geopolitical map of the Middle East. At the tenth Tripartite Summit in Jerusalem, leaders positioned the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as the ultimate weapon against regional rivals.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flies to Washington next week to pitch this vision directly to Donald Trump. Sources suggest Netanyahu’s White House agenda is laser-focused: cementing the IMEC alliance and exposing Turkey’s “negative role” in the region.
Aiming Erdogan
Netanyahu used his platform alongside Nikos Christodoulides and Kyriakos Mitsotakis to fire a warning shot at Ankara. The Israeli leader explicitly cautioned the Turkish leadership against «neo-Ottoman ambitions,» asserting that the three nations are determined to defend their sovereign rights.
For Jerusalem, Turkey’s maneuvering is viewed through the same lens as Iran’s. The difference, according to Israeli analysis, is that Ankara operates «more covertly» by leveraging its NATO membership and the Muslim Brotherhood. Israel remains a hard “no” on any Turkish involvement in Trump’s Gaza reconstruction plans.
Reviving the ‘3+1’ with Washington
The leaders are calling for the immediate return of the “3+1” format—bringing the United States back to the table as a formal partner. They believe Trump’s return and a potential end to the Gaza war create the perfect storm for this revival.
The strategy isn’t just talk; concrete infrastructure and security projects are already moving:
1. Energy: The Great Sea Interconnector will link the Eastern Mediterranean power grid to Europe.
2. Cyber Security: A new maritime cybersecurity “Centre of Excellence” will open in Cyprus in 2026.
3. Maritime Law: Cyprus and Lebanon recently signed a breakthrough EEZ boundary deal.
4. Disaster Response: A tripartite working group is being formed for emergency readiness.
Washington’s $35 billion push
While the Tripartite solidifies, Washington is pulling strings behind the scenes to bypass Turkish influence. A massive $35 billion gas deal between Israel and Egypt reportedly came together following American pressure.
Donald Trump is now pushing for a high-level summit with Netanyahu and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. This deal, following hot on the heels of the Cyprus-Lebanon maritime agreement, signals a hardening “positive agenda” in the Eastern Mediterranean that leaves Turkey on the outside looking in.
