Herzog to visit Cyprus on September 10 as strategic cooperation with Athens and Nicosia takes center stage

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will travel to Cyprus on September 10 for a one-day visit focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and deepening relations between the two countries, his office said.

The visit is expected to follow an invitation from Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who will receive Herzog at the Presidential Palace. The two leaders will meet privately before chairing expanded talks with the participation of their national delegations.

The Israeli president’s office did not list Turkey as an official agenda item. The meeting comes, however, as geopolitical tensions intensify in the eastern Mediterranean and strategic cooperation among Israel, Cyprus and Greece expands.

The three countries have broadened cooperation in defense, energy and regional security in recent years, according to i24NEWS. Ankara is closely watching the development. Tensions increased after Cyprus decided to acquire the Israeli-made Barak MX air-defense system. Turkey has warned that deploying the system could further worsen the situation, while Nicosia says strengthening its defenses is a necessary response to growing regional threats.

Israel has also deepened defense cooperation with Greece. The two countries signed a 3 billion euro agreement to create a multilayered Greek air and missile defense system. The arrangement forms part of broader Greek-Israeli relations and the security balance in the eastern Mediterranean, where Athens, Nicosia and Jerusalem closely monitor Turkey’s regional presence.

The visit will be Herzog’s second meeting with Christodoulides. The Cypriot president traveled to Israel in December 2025 and met Herzog at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem. Although the upcoming visit’s formal agenda centers on Cyprus-Israel relations, its timing gives the meeting wider regional significance.