The United States, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening energy security in the Eastern Mediterranean during a "3+1" ministerial meeting in Athens.
According to a joint statement from the U.S. State Department, the four governments pledged to deepen cooperation, promote diversification, and reduce dependence on "malign actors," a pointed reference to Russia.
In a significant development, Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced that the long-debated EastMed natural gas pipeline is "returning to the agenda."
Mr. Cohen told Israeli media that the U.S. is "ready to take on a more active role" in the project.
The proposed pipeline would connect Israeli gas reserves to Europe via Cyprus and Greece. "The goal is to create an alternative corridor to Russian routes," Mr. Cohen said, adding it would also help bypass Houthi-controlled areas and reduce European energy prices.
The ministers, meeting at Zappeion Hall, also discussed regional interconnections, including links to the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, and condemned Moscow's efforts to circumvent oil sanctions.
The next 3+1 ministerial meeting is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., in the second quarter of 2026.