Herzog to visit Cyprus for talks on ‘deepening cooperation’ amid tensions with Turkey
The Israeli president’s one-day visit comes as Israel, Cyprus and Greece expand strategic ties in the increasingly contested Eastern Mediterranean
President Isaac Herzog will travel to Cyprus on September 10 for a one-day diplomatic visit focused on “deepening cooperation” and strengthening ties between the two countries, his office announced.
Herzog will visit at the invitation of Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who will receive him at the Presidential Palace. The two leaders will hold private talks before leading a bilateral meeting attended by Israeli and Cypriot delegations.
Although Herzog’s office did not identify Turkey as a formal subject of the talks, the visit comes amid growing friction involving Ankara and the expanding strategic relationship between Israel, Cyprus and Greece.
Cooperation among the three countries has grown to include defense, energy and regional security. That alignment has drawn scrutiny from Turkey, which has long-standing disputes with Cyprus and Greece over maritime boundaries, energy resources and sovereignty in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, with the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus controlling the south and a Turkish Cypriot administration governing the north. Turkey, the only country that recognizes the breakaway northern state, maintains troops on the island.
Tensions rose further after Cyprus acquired the Israeli-made Barak MX air-defense system. Turkey warned that the deployment could destabilize the divided island, while Cyprus has argued that upgrading its defenses is necessary amid mounting regional threats.
Israel has also strengthened defense cooperation with Greece, recently signing a €3 billion agreement to help construct a multilayered Greek air-defense network. The partnership has developed against the backdrop of Greek-Turkish rivalry and wider concerns over Turkey’s regional influence.
Herzog’s trip therefore carries broader regional significance, even if its official agenda remains centered on bilateral cooperation.
The visit continues the working relationship between Herzog and Christodoulides. The Cypriot president traveled to Israel in December 2025 and met Herzog at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.