Greek Reporter Cyprus and Israel Move Toward Finalizing Electric Grid Link By Tasos Kokkinidis May 6, 2025

 Greek Reporter 

Cyprus and Israel Move Toward Finalizing Electric Grid Link

By

Tasos Kokkinidis

May 6, 2025

Cyprus Israel Greece Electric Grid

The trilateral initiative is poised to enhance energy security and integration across the Eastern Mediterranean. Credit: Video screenshot/YouTube/Musisi Henry

Cyprus and Israel have agreed to move forward with finalizing the electric power grid interconnection agreement in 2025, marking a significant step in the development of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), a major infrastructure project that will also link to Greece.

This trilateral initiative is poised to enhance energy security and integration across the Eastern Mediterranean while also deepening the strategic energy partnership between Nicosia and Tel Aviv.

The announcement followed a high-level meeting in Israel between Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signaling the growing geopolitical weight of regional energy collaboration.

In a notable diplomatic development, the GSI project has now been publicly associated with the broader India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a US-supported initiative aimed at bolstering connectivity and stability from South Asia to Europe.

This alignment is seen as a strategic effort in drawing heightened American engagement in the geopolitically sensitive Eastern Mediterranean, an area currently impacted by instability from Syria to the Gulf of Aden south of Yemen.

The discussions also touched on the potential participation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the power link project. While the prospect of Emirati involvement could further elevate the project’s regional scope, it remains under consideration at this stage.

Greece, Israel, and Cyprus are determined to proceed with the GSI despite opposition from Turkey.

Greek power grid operator IPTO is constructing the cable, which will link Europe’s transmission networks to Cyprus in a €1.9 billion project and later stretch to Israel through the Mediterranean Sea.

Connecting Kofinou, Cyprus to Hadera, Israel and Korakias, Crete, Greece, the GSI is a major Project of Common Interest (PCI) of the European Union and a priority Electricity Highway Interconnector Project as an energy highway bridging Asia and Europe.

Why Turkey opposes the Greece-Cyprus-Israel electricity link

Turkey claims that the electricity link violates its rights, according to a memorandum on maritime zones signed in collaboration with a provisional Libyan government (GNA). Athens considers this memorandum illegitimate.

Turkey has repeatedly opposed the project, with sources from the Turkish Ministry of Defense calling the planned activities “provocative” and accusing Greece and Cyprus of proceeding without Turkey’s consent. The sources added that these efforts, driven by what they called “maximalist ambitions,” are ill-conceived and lack the necessary resources.

In response, Greece has chosen a more cautious approach, focusing on gradual steps while managing the surrounding international pressures.

Greece has firmly stated that the project will proceed and has adhered to the timeline for resuming research operations under wraps amid increasing pressure from Turkey.

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis acknowledged the uncertainty around the timeline for the resumption of the research, stating last month at the Delphi Forum:

“The research and cable laying will resume at the appropriate time. There has never been a fixed date for this. We will proceed as necessary, when the time is right.”

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!