In a joint letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Israel, and Cyprus invited the United States to participate in the next ministerial meeting of the “3+1” format (Greece, Israel, Cyprus + USA). This initiative aims to deepen and upgrade regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to a report by Lena Argiri in Kathimerini, the letter highlights Marco Rubio’s decisive role in shaping US strategy for the region, as he was one of the key proponents of the “Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act.”
The three ministers noted that the importance of trilateral cooperation had been recognised since Rubio’s time in the Senate, where he played a crucial role in promoting legislation that strengthened the partnership among the three countries and the United States.
The letter emphasises the willingness to strengthen cooperation with Washington in critical areas such as energy security, counterterrorism, innovation, digital technologies, civil protection, and cybersecurity. The ministers stressed that the Eastern Mediterranean is gaining increased strategic importance as an energy and infrastructure hub linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Special reference is made to emerging investment opportunities, particularly in critical infrastructure, with a focus on the IMEC Corridor (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor). As stated in the letter, “It is time to launch strategic investments and create corridors of peace, security, and prosperity.”
The letter also touches on recent geopolitical developments in Syria and Lebanon, as well as threats to free navigation, which it presents as additional reasons for enhancing cooperation with the US. “Regional challenges make it imperative for closer coordination aimed at stability in our region,” the letter underscores.
The three ministers also referenced the Abraham Accords, describing the 3+1 format as a platform that can contribute to the development of a collaborative security and connectivity model in the broader region. “Further strengthening of the 3+1 format can act as a catalyst for establishing stability between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia,” they emphasised, adding that such prospects would also boost the spirit of the Abraham Accords.
Finally, the letter recalls that since its founding in 2016, the trilateral cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel has evolved into an example of regional convergence and prosperity. It also highlighted the participation of the then-US Secretary of State in the 2019 summit in Jerusalem, which marked a milestone in the establishment of the 3+1 format.
The letter reflects the new momentum of the 3+1 initiative at a time when regional security, energy geostrategy, and infrastructure diplomacy are at the forefront of international interest.
Notably, just a few days ago, a bipartisan bill on the Eastern Mediterranean was introduced in the US Congress, aiming to formalise the region’s role within the IMEC Corridor and strengthen defence and energy cooperation between Greece, Israel, Cyprus, Egypt, the US, and India.
Also read: US bill on defence cooperation between Greece–Cyprus–Israel
