From the air to the sea: The Israeli Navy's unusual request from Greece – and the fury of Turkish intelligence
A Greek report reveals that Israel asked Greece to deepen knowledge sharing in naval warfare, as part of shifting the weight of defense to protecting gas platforms. A joint exercise of Israeli missile ships and Greek frigates was held off the coast of Crete, and the report notes that Turkish intelligence sees this as encirclement.
A Greek report on the Hellas Journal website reveals that Israel asked Greece to deepen the sharing of knowledge and experience in the field of naval operations and various types of warfare at sea. According to military sources cited in the report, Israel has been investing in recent years in developing its naval power to protect energy infrastructure, communication lines, and shipping routes. In early September 2026, the Israeli Navy and the Greek Navy held a joint exercise off the coast of Crete, with the participation of two Israeli missile ships and the Greek frigates 'Hydra' and 'Nikiforos Fokas'. The forces practiced emergency scenarios, identification, and neutralization of threats in the maritime space. The Greek report presents the exercise as part of the gradual expansion of military relations between the two countries: from the air to the sea. It is also claimed that the United States welcomes the cooperation, while in Turkey it is seen as encirclement.