By: Ekathimerini.com

A Strategic Visit for Energy Cooperation

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen conducted an official visit to Athens to participate in the P-TEC energy conference, marking a continued effort to strengthen regional ties During his visit, Cohen engaged with Kathimerini to discuss the evolving energy partnerships between Athens, Nicosia, and Jerusalem, providing updates on the progress of two critical infrastructure projects: the EastMed pipeline and the Great Sea Interconnector cable He emphasized the broad strategic nature of the Greece-Israel partnership, which extends beyond energy into domains such as tourism, intelligence, and defense Cohen highlighted the significance of the conference, noting the substantial participation from the United States with the presence of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, underscoring the international importance of the discussions.

Forging a New East-to-West Energy Corridor

Minister Cohen articulated a clear vision for a new energy infrastructure corridor designed to enhance European energy security He explained that the proposed route would have Israel as the exit point from Asia and Cyprus as the entry point, with Greece playing a decisive role in the region's energy landscape This corridor is intended to significantly benefit the economies of both Greece and Israel while also contributing to the global economy by establishing an alternative energy route that reduces reliance on other suppliers Cohen further connected this initiative to the broader IMEC vision, a corridor starting in India and ending in Europe, stating that the Athens conference was a key platform for promoting this extensive and transformative project.

A Partnership Based on Mutual Interest

The high-profile nature of the conference, with significant US and EU delegation attendance, was characterized in Turkish media as a strategic show of force by Greece, Israel, and Cyprus When questioned on whether the trilateral cooperation aimed to reduce dependence on Turkey, Cohen affirmed that the partnership was driven purely by national interests, describing it as a strategic pursuit of what is best for their respective countries He stated that while other leaders are free to pursue their own energy agreements, the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel serves their own strategic interests and is critically important for Europe, a priority that aligns with American objectives to diversify energy delivery routes to the continent.

Reevaluating the Great Sea Interconnector Sequence

Delving into the specifics of the Greece-Cyprus-Israel electricity interconnection, known as the Great Sea Interconnector, Cohen addressed the significant delays that have hampered the project's implementation He revealed a potential strategic shift in the project's phasing, suggesting that the sequence of construction could be altered to save valuable time Instead of proceeding with the first phase connecting Crete and Cyprus, Cohen proposed considering an initial focus on the Israel-Cyprus interconnection, indicating a pragmatic approach to accelerating the long-awaited energy link and bringing the project closer to fruition.

Significant Progress on the EastMed Pipeline

Regarding the EastMed pipeline project, which had appeared stalled five years after its initial agreement was signed, Cohen reported that very significant progress had recently been made He detailed that the energy company Energean, which operates gas reservoirs in Israel, has signed an agreement with a customer in Cyprus and plans to build the pipeline using private funds, with an export request already submitted The minister expressed his positive consideration for approving gas exports from Israel to Cyprus, emphasizing his belief that the private sector is often capable of moving more swiftly than government entities in advancing such complex infrastructure initiatives.

Broader Impacts and a Vision for Regional Stability

When asked about new energy agreements beyond the pipeline and interconnector, Cohen indicated that these two projects are the primary current focus but that their success is expected to catalyze partnerships in numerous other sectors, such as data centers and artificial intelligence In closing, the discussion turned to regional politics, with Cohen asserting Israel's strength in confronting multiple security challenges and delaying Iran's nuclear ambitions He expressed optimism for the region's future, noting the opportunity under potential US leadership to expand the Abraham Accords, which would in turn reinforce the sustainability of the IMEC energy corridor and solidify this new strategic link from India to Europe.