Cyprus and Israel to Sign Major Energy Agreement

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides visited Israel over the weekend, where he held meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Christodoulides was the first foreign leader to visit the country following a Houthi missile attack on Ben Gurion International Airport, which occurred earlier that same day. President Herzog described the visit as a “powerful demonstration of the strong friendship between our two nations.” The talks focused on regional security and strengthening bilateral relations.

Following the meetings, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced that Cyprus and Israel will sign a landmark agreement in 2025 to link their electricity grids. The project involves laying an undersea power cable between the two countries, which will eventually extend to mainland Europe. This initiative forms part of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), aiming to create a new energy route connecting East and West.

Officials emphasized the strategic importance of this project for regional energy security, particularly for Israel, which currently functions as an “energy island” due to its limited grid connections with neighboring countries. Once completed, the cable will become a key part of IMEC — a U.S.-led international infrastructure initiative to boost economic and energy links between India, the Middle East, and Europe.

The leaders also discussed a pending agreement on the joint development of the Aphrodite-Ishai natural gas field, located in a disputed maritime zone. Negotiations over how to divide the reserves are nearing completion, with a deal expected within the next two months. Humanitarian efforts in Gaza were also on the agenda.