Greece and Israel want India to join Cyprus alliance after Turkey emboldened by Pakistan: Report

Greece wants India to join the "Mediterranean Quad" alliance, amid Turkey's decision to strengthen its defensive ties with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The Mediterranean Quad, often referred to as the "Med Quad", is an alliance comprising Greece, Israel, and Cyprus—each having grievances with Recep Erdoğan's Turkey. With Ankara moving closer to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan—one a financial titan and the other a nuclear power—fresh challenges could arise. Greek authorities calculate that getting New Delhi on board could provide an ideal deterrent.

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Athens is willing to make the first move in this regard by presenting itself as "India's gateway to Europe", a statement read. Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis made the roadmap clear while interacting with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar. Gerapetritis last met EAM Jaishankar on 6 February last year in New Delhi—a visit that coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Greece.

According to reports, what Greece offers India is entry into the Eastern Mediterranean security and energy ecosystem. It should be noted that Turkish media were not impressed by an agreement between India and the European Union, which is expected to double EU exports by 2032 and includes tariff reductions offered by India to the EU at a level not provided to any other trading partner. The South Asian major is already aware of Turkey's allegiance to Islamabad.

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The announcement of Turkey and Pakistan finalising plans for a tripartite defence partnership with Saudi Arabia came amidst unrest in Iran and rumours of US intervention. The particulars of the deal remain unknown. The proposed deal is not likely to include a clause that demands mandatory mutual support in the event of an armed conflict, the report said. 

In September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defence pact under which any aggression against either country shall be considered an act of aggression against both. The 'Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement' was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's state visit to Riyadh. According to reports, this defence deal between the two sides is unrelated to the three-party partnership now being discussed.

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The alliance of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan has already gained the moniker "NATO of Islamic States", and the "Med Quad" wants to prepare for any eventualities. Thus, India is being welcomed into the fold, and the alliance is open to restructuring itself into a "3+1" format to accommodate the new ally, Defence Security Asia said in a report. The proposal has been made officially to India, communicating that the regional alliance is willing to transform into a "trans-regional strategic bloc capable of counterbalancing Ankara's expanding military cooperation" if India is ready to come on board, the report added.

What is "Med Quad"?

The "Med Quad" was formed in the early years of the 21st century's second decade when Greece, Cyprus, and Israel understood the need to stitch together a united front against the military might of Turkey. The Aegean Islands, maritime boundaries, Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), and energy have strained the relationship between NATO members Greece and Turkey. A disagreement over who has sovereignty over the island and how the two main communities—Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots—should coexist has been a matter of conflict between Turkey and Cyprus since the mid-20th century.

While India-Israel defence bonding is well-documented, Greek security forces have conducted joint exercises with their Indian counterparts, and the two democracies have also entered into port access agreements.

"This dynamic meeting has elevated the Med Quad from a mere conceptual alignment of key candidate pillars to a new Mediterranean-Indo-Pacific security continuum, linking energy security, maritime control, and defence industrial cooperation in a unified strategic framework aimed at containing Turkey's ambitions," Defence Security Asia said.