For Israel, Greece is more than a friend - it is a strategic partner - opinion

In the Middle East, where alliances are repeatedly tested by crises, Greece is a partner Israel should value.

Beyond the blue sea, the islands, and the beloved music stands a country that understands the importance of its relationship with Israel and gives it diplomatic, security, and economic depth.

Relations between Jerusalem and Athens show how geographic proximity can become a strategic partnership when political leaders invest in it over time.

Relations between countries also have a personal dimension, expressed through diplomatic encounters.

One such occasion was a dinner hosted by Ami H Orkaby, dean of the Israeli Consular Corps and honorary consul general of South Korea, and his wife, Shirley.

Gil Haskel, Israel’s chief of protocol, attended the dinner, which was held in honor of Nikolaos Margaropoulos of Greece, president of the World Federation of Consuls (FICAC).

Such gatherings illustrate the importance of diplomacy in connecting people and countries, building relationships, and cultivating trust.

The organization president’s Greek background also gives the occasion a personal connection to relations with Greece. Honorary consuls, who operate at the intersection of diplomacy and business, can help expand relationships and advance new initiatives.

Alongside formal agreements, hospitality, conversation, and a willingness to listen and help create the foundation for future partnerships, Orkaby’s contribution to cultivating these encounters and strengthening Israel’s international relationships deserves recognition.

What makes Greek-Israeli ties so significant

Greece’s approach toward Israel is especially worthy of appreciation because it exists within a complex political reality. Friendship does not require agreement on every issue.

Athens maintains independent positions and has criticized Israel on diplomatic matters, but disagreements do not erase the relationship’s importance.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s visit to Israel in October 2023, following the Hamas attack, expressed solidarity during an exceptionally difficult period and demonstrated the human significance of the partnership.

Greece’s ambassador to Israel, Maya Solomou, also deserves recognition for her contribution to this continuing effort. She presented her credentials to President Isaac Herzog in February 2025.

Her work demonstrates the value of diplomacy that connects governments, business communities, and professionals.

Her presence in economic and security forums provides an active point of contact and helps turn goodwill into meetings, new relationships, and the exploration of practical opportunities for cooperation.

In January 2026, Solomou was the guest of honor at a meeting of the Israel Greece Chamber of Commerce’s security, policing and cybersecurity forum. She emphasized the trust between the countries and the importance of expanding their economic and technological ties.

The chamber also published an invitation to a business meeting at her residence in June.

These are examples of diplomacy’s practical contribution: opening doors, bringing entrepreneurs together, and strengthening mutual familiarity. Her investment in making this friendship part of everyday life deserves appreciation.

The security partnership offers particularly impressive examples.

The international flight training center in Kalamata, established and operated by Elbit Systems under an agreement between the two countries’ defense ministries, combines Israeli experience with the needs of the Hellenic Air Force.

Training aircraft, instructional systems, and simulators create professional infrastructure for the long term.

The project’s significance extends beyond a commercial transaction: it reflects Greece’s willingness to entrust a central component of its pilot training program to a reliable partner.

JOINT MILITARY exercises provide another important dimension.

In September 2023, the IDF described an aerial exercise with Greece that included long-range flights, aerial refueling, low-altitude flying, and deploying munitions at Greek training ranges.

Exercises of this kind allow both sides to learn from each other and become familiar with diverse operational conditions.

The 2026 military cooperation program among Israel, Greece, and Cyprus demonstrates that the relationship is also expanding into an organized regional framework based on planning and coordination.

Alongside aircraft and military exercises, the friendship also has a distinctly civilian dimension. In the summer of 2023, Israel sent firefighting aircraft and crews to help Greece confront severe wildfires.

When communities, forests, and human lives are in danger, cooperation gains tangible meaning. Operational expertise and the ability to mobilize quickly demonstrate how a relationship between countries can provide direct assistance to people in need.

Tourism is another central pillar of the relationship. Proximity, culture, and Greek hospitality create a natural foundation for encounters between the two peoples, along with economic opportunities in hospitality, aviation, and related services.

In September 2026, the Greek tourism minister and Israel’s ambassador in Athens discussed expanding tourism cooperation. This continued engagement has considerable value. Every successful personal encounter can strengthen familiarity, reduce suspicion, and generate mutual interest.

Energy, water, and innovation offer more opportunities for progress. Joint business forums are exploring ways to connect Israeli technological capabilities with opportunities in Greece and Cyprus.

Energy connectivity projects still require economic evaluation, financing, and solutions to diplomatic challenges, but the coordination itself is important.

It allows the countries to think regionally about energy security, supply diversification, and stronger links between the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe.

This is also where the significance of the trilateral partnership with Cyprus and the cooperative framework with the United States becomes clear. These relationships can serve as a counterweight to exert pressure in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Amid disputes with Turkey over maritime boundaries and energy resources, coordination strengthens the negotiating position of the participating countries.

In the face of the Iranian threat and regional attacks on trade routes, stable security relationships become even more important.

Greece pursues an independent foreign policy, and the trilateral relationship should not be interpreted as a threat to other countries.

Its strength lies in responsible deterrence: protecting sovereignty, infrastructure, and freedom of navigation while leaving the door open to dialogue.

Successful cooperation increases the prospects for regional stability.

Greece deserves a central place in Israel’s foreign policy and treatment that recognizes both its contribution and its needs.

The work of Solomou, the efforts of professional officials, and the political commitment in both capitals give the partnership an opportunity to continue deepening.

In an era of uncertainty, knowing that a country across the sea stands ready to train, trade, innovate, and exchange assistance is a genuine strategic asset.

That asset should be cultivated wisely, with mutual respect and gratitude. It is an investment in our security, our economy, and the ability of future generations to live in a stable and prosperous region.

The writer is the CEO of Radios 100FM, an Honorary Consul and vice dean of the Consular Diplomatic Corps, president of the Israel Amateur Radio Club, and previously served as a monitor for Israel Army Radio and as a television correspondent for NBC News.