A trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel is set to take place today, Thursday, March 13, in Athens. High on the agenda is the critical Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project—an ambitious electricity interconnection linking the three countries—as well as international and regional developments, with a focus on the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
One of the key discussion points will be the future of the energy interconnection, following concerns over the project’s progress. The suspension of offshore exploration, triggered by a halt in payments to the French cable manufacturer Nexans, has raised questions about the project’s viability.
Despite these concerns, Nexans has assured that the project remains active and that the company will continue constructing the cable.
Meanwhile, Greece is looking to Israel for support in keeping the initiative on track. At the same time, Athens is also banking on French backing, given that Nexans has secured a 1.4 billion euros contract for the supply of cables.
The three nations are expected to reaffirm the strategic importance of this mega project, which could serve as a key energy corridor of geopolitical significance for both the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe.
Israeli Ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, recently highlighted this commitment in an interview with Geotrends, emphasizing that the project enjoys strong political backing from Greece, Cyprus, and Israel and is closer to realization than other regional energy initiatives. Notably, Israel has already signed an agreement with Greece in December to enhance energy cooperation.
Beyond energy, the trilateral discussions will also cover regional security concerns, including developments in the Middle East. With violence resurging in Syria, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has reiterated that the country’s new de facto leadership must ensure a peaceful political transition that includes all minorities.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s revisionist stance continues to be a source of concern for Athens. Gerapetritis highlighted that the two sides remain at odds over the framework for discussions on key territorial disputes, particularly regarding the delineation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf.
