Israel, Greece and Cyprus can do more together
The beginning of 2020 found the leaders of Israel, Greece and Cyprus together in Athens. Prime ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as President Nikos Anastasiadis, signed a provisional agreement for the construction of the East Med pipeline to transport natural gas from the Levantine Basin to Europe. At that time, the project looked difficult but feasible.
Four months later, the landscape is completely different. The COVID-19 crisis has impacted on the interest of several energy companies in continuing with their drilling operations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Some have already announced the postponement of their plans for later.
The question that cannot be answered now is whether the fall in energy prices will have long-term consequences or only temporary ones. It is certainly positive that a joint venture between Greece’s public gas company and Italy’s Edison announced at the end of April that they were seeking to short-list two contractors to build part of the pipeline. Expectations should be rather low though.
Another critical parameter is to what extent the US will practically reaffirm its commitment to the Israeli-Greek-Cypriot partnership. Although priorities of the State Department do not change overnight, the US has entered a complex and intense preelection period because of the pandemic.
In the meanwhile, Washington’s concern about the ongoing cooperation between Turkey and Russia could perhaps lead to some diplomatic maneuvering.
Ankara never hid its frustration over the strengthening of the trilateral partnership in the Eastern Mediterranean, asserting it would not accept its exclusion from gas discoveries. That is why it signed an agreement last November with the Libyan Government of National Accord demarcating their exclusive economic zones.
The agreement violates international law but this does not prevent Turkish drilling ships from proceeding to research in designated areas.
Washington is clearly concentrating its efforts on restraining China. The Turkish-Russian rapprochement is only causing additional problems. Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, the participation of Turkey in the East Med Gas Forum had been favored by American policymakers.
Israel, Greece and Cyprus will soon have to assess the proposal practically. And the US stance in that regard will certainly matter. Should Turkey respect international law, the inclusivity of the East Med Gas Forum will only be an asset.
The Israel-Greek-Cypriot partnership it not affected by the impact of COVID-19 on energy questions. It is deeper and goes beyond them. The recent formation of a government in Israel will allow important discussions to take place soon as relevant parliamentary committees will return to the normality of joint work, probably online. Cooperation on handling the virus is more important than ever and takes a multilateral form.
Valuing the EU fight against the coronavirus, Israel responded to the invitation of commission president Ursula von der Leyen and pledged to invest $60 million in research and development for drugs and a vaccine. Also, the announcement of the Israeli Defense Ministry that the national institute for biological research completed the development phase of COVID-19 antibody or passive vaccine creates new opportunities.
Furthermore, a few weeks ago Netanyahu and Mitsotakis participated in a video conference organized by the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Leaders of Australia, Denmark, the Czech Republic and New Zealand also took part. The purpose was to revive economies through tourism and trade. Cyprus, which remains relatively safe, can learn from the experience of the seven states.
Collaboration opportunities do not stop here. Assuming that the world will acquire a clearer digital dimension in the post-COVID-19 era, Greece and Cyprus can draw important lessons from Israel. In the fifth trilateral summit that took place in December 2018 in Beersheba, the three countries expanded their agenda, which has since then encompassed cybersecurity, smart cities and innovation. An intensification of talks will only help under current circumstances.
Last but not least, Greece and Cyprus can play a leading role in keeping the combat of antisemitism high on the European agenda. The current phase of uncertainty might influence or sideline this European effort. Athens and Nicosia need to raise the issue in virtual European summits.
The Israeli-Greek-Cypriot friendship is grounded on solid foundations that are successfully tested in difficult times.
The writer is a research associate at Bar-Ilan University’s Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, and a senior fellow and lecturer at the European Institute of Nice and the Democritus University of Thrace.