Introduction:

As Israel seeks to bolster its regional standing, a dual-track diplomatic strategy is taking shape. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deepens relationships today with Cyprus and Greece to establish a tripartite leadership role in regional gas diplomacy, Energy Minister Israel Katz is handling sideline talks with Turkey and Egypt. Both tracks aim to maximize Israel's leverage in the Eastern Mediterranean and pave the way for a broader diplomatic play, potentially through the expansion of the Abraham Accords. Most probably Turkey and Egypt reached out to Israel to see whats what having seen Bibi take a certain approach in getting closer to Cyprus and Greece.

The Cyprus-Greece-Israel Leadership Axis:

Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent diplomatic overtures towards Cyprus and Greece are more than mere alliance-building; they represent a strategic attempt to form a leadership axis on regional gas issues. By focusing on Cyprus as a gateway to European markets and discussing the possibility of connecting Israeli and Cypriot power grids, Israel is betting on this axis to set the terms of gas diplomacy in the Eastern Mediterranean. This has been a long time in the making but this year from back in May Bibi was more openly touting the Cypriot LNG option even to his own cabinet.