New Law Formalizes U.S.-Israel-Greece-Cyprus Security Alliance: Millions Authorized for Training and Base Upgrades

This new legislation, the American-Hellenic-Israeli Eastern Mediterranean Counterterrorism and Maritime Security Partnership Act of 2025, is all about cementing a four-way security alliance. The bill’s main goal is to formalize and significantly ramp up cooperation among the United States, Israel, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus (ROC) specifically in fighting terrorism and securing the seas. It doesn't just talk about cooperation; it authorizes millions of dollars for new facilities, sets up mandatory training programs, and creates new high-level groups to make sure this partnership lasts.

The Security Quad: Formalizing the Partnership

Think of this bill as turning a long-distance relationship into a formal engagement. The U.S. already has strong security ties with each of these three nations, but this Act institutionalizes the connection. It creates two new groups that must meet at least twice a year: the Interparliamentary Group (for lawmakers) and the Interexecutive Group (for high-level officials from the State, Defense, and Homeland Security departments). These groups are designed to ensure that the security conversations are happening constantly across all four capitals, meaning the legislative and executive branches are locked into this cooperation.

Crucially, the bill also eliminates the "sunset date" on the existing 3+1 Interparliamentary Group, which was set to automatically expire. By striking that termination clause (Sec. 5), Congress is signaling that this alliance structure is here to stay, not just a temporary measure.

New Training, New Money: CERBERUS and TRIREME

The real muscle of this bill is in the two new training programs it mandates and funds. The Secretary of Defense must establish CERBERUS (a counterterrorism training program) and TRIREME (a maritime security program). These aren't just one-off exercises; they are structured programs designed to boost the skills of ministry and headquarters staff across all four countries, ensuring everyone uses the same playbook when responding to a crisis.

To make this happen, the bill authorizes significant funds for facility upgrades. The U.S. is authorized to spend up to $5 million to build new facilities at the C.Y.C.L.O.P.S. security center in Cyprus and another $5 million to upgrade the Greek Souda Naval Base. On top of that, both Cyprus and Greece are authorized to receive $2 million annually for the general support of these new facilities from 2026 through 2029. This is a substantial investment in the physical infrastructure of our allies, ensuring that these bases remain key strategic assets in the Eastern Mediterranean.

What It Means for Cyprus and U.S. Policy

One of the most significant changes in the bill is the explicit removal of previous limitations on providing defense articles and security assistance to the Republic of Cyprus (Sec. 11). For years, there were statutory requirements and restrictions on what kind of defense equipment the U.S. could sell or transfer to Cyprus. This bill wipes those out. The practical effect is that it opens the door for much deeper military and defense cooperation with Cyprus, treating it more like the U.S.'s other key security partners in the region.

While proponents will argue this is necessary to enhance security in a critical region, it’s worth noting that removing prior limitations also removes some of the existing congressional oversight mechanisms on arms transfers to the ROC. If you’re someone who values strict accountability on foreign security assistance, this change means those decisions will rely more heavily on executive branch policy and less on specific statutory requirements.

Finally, the bill boosts the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs, authorizing an extra $1 million annually for Israel and $250,000 each for Greece and Cyprus between 2026 and 2029. This is the nuts-and-bolts funding that allows military personnel from these countries to train alongside U.S. forces, ensuring smooth interoperability when they need to work together in a real-world scenario.