Katz issues veiled warning to Turkey as he meets Greek defense minister in Athens

Defense Minister Israel Katz met with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Athens on Tuesday as security ties continue to grow between the two Mediterranean countries.

Issuing a thinly veiled warning to Turkey, Katz said Israel and Greece were determined “not to allow actors seeking to undermine regional stability to establish a foothold through terrorism, aggression, or military proxies — in Syria, in Gaza, in the Aegean Sea, or in any other arena — and to realize their dangerous ambitions.”

“Those who dream of dragging the region backward, establishing control through terror, or rebuilding empires at the expense of sovereign states will encounter a resolute alliance of free, strong nations capable of defending themselves,” Katz continued, alongside his Greek counterpart.

Speaking of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last slain hostage held in Gaza, Katz stressed that “Hamas bears the responsibility to locate him and return him to Israel for burial without any delay.”

Greece will cooperate with Israel on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity, Dendias said after meeting his Israeli counterpart.

In late December, Israel, Greece and Cyprus signed a trilateral work plan for military cooperation among the IDF, Greece’s Hellenic Armed Forces, and the Cypriot National Guard in 2026, in a move that further deepens security coordination among Turkey’s regional rivals in the eastern Mediterranean.

The agreement, signed in Cyprus, also provided for various bilateral work plans and covers joint exercises and training, working groups across a range of fields and strategic military dialogue on shared security challenges, according to the military.

Also in December, Greek media reported that the three allies were examining the establishment of a joint rapid-response military force in the eastern Mediterranean, amid growing concern in Athens over Turkey’s expanding military posture.

Greece and Cyprus have already purchased missile systems from Israel worth billions of euros. Athens is also in talks to buy from Israel medium- and long-range anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missile systems for a planned multi-layer air and drone defense system known as the “Achilles Shield,” estimated to cost about 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion).

Last month, the Greek parliament approved the purchase of 36 PULS rocket artillery systems from Israel to bolster defenses along Greece’s northeastern border with Turkey and on Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.

Reuters contributed to this report.