Israeli, Greek, Cypriot, and US lawmakers gather to strengthen ties

This week, lawmakers from the US, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel convened by video conference to advance cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Over the past 15 years, relations between Israel and Cyprus, and Greece have grown significantly in several areas, including tourism, healthcare, cybersecurity, energy, and military cooperation.

This was the backdrop for the inter-parliamentary conference.

In a statement, it was claimed, “We are pleased to have called the first meeting of the 3+1 inter-parliamentary group with elected representatives from the US, Cyprus, Greece, and Israel.”

“We discussed ways our legislative bodies can advance shared priorities, including energy security, maritime security, economic growth, and overall stability,” the statement reads.

“We reaffirmed our shared commitment to promoting security, stability, and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). President of the U.S. A bipartisan group of American senators, including Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb. ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), sponsored the event along with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“The importance of cooperation in various fields, including energy, cybersecurity, disaster readiness, and more, cannot be overstated,” said Likud Knesset member Dan Illouz.

“The parliamentary oversight that we can put in place will advance international cooperation,”

The Yesh Atid party of opposition leader Yair Lapid’s MK Moshe Tur-Paz also attended the conference.

The leader of the Greek delegation was MP and former foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis, while the Cypriots were represented by Nikolas Papadopoulos, the chairman of the finance and budget committee in their parliamentary body.

After Menendez’s bicameral plan was adopted in the US, the gathering took place. a Senate resolution that strengthens multilateral collaboration between Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the United States and significantly ups American support for Greek military modernization.

The parliamentary meeting occurs as construction is underway on an “energy highway” connecting Greece’s, Cyprus’, and Israel’s national power networks.

The primary energy project, sponsored by the EU, comes as the EU is being impacted by a global energy crisis brought on by the conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia and hard, highlighting how dependent the region is on foreign energy.

At a conference later this year, the leaders of Israel, Cyprus, and Greece will gather.