Cyprus, France, Greece and Italy have decided to expand their cooperation on defense policy matters. Representatives of the four countries met in Larnaca on Monday (24/11/2025) within the framework of the Quadrilateral Cooperation (QUAD), where they confirmed their unity and determination in addressing new security challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The representatives of the four countries assured that their cooperation will be based on solidarity and mutual respect with adherence to International Law (including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea “UNCLOS”) and the principle of freedom of navigation.
According to the statement released, the goal of the four-country cooperation is to expand the scope of joint training activities, with emphasis on emerging sectors such as cybersecurity, hybrid threats and maritime security. In this context, they will improve coordinated crisis response mechanisms, ensuring rapid and effective action against unpredictable developments, and will enhance innovation and exchange of best practices to address new and complex security challenges.
Additionally, the four countries strengthen their commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes, supporting diplomacy as the cornerstone of their approach to regional stability, while maintaining frequent communication and annual reviews to assess progress, adapt strategies and ensure continuity of their cooperation dynamics. This agreement was achieved following progress in joint exercises such as “EUNOMIA” and the deepening of operational cooperation, which reinforced the decision to protect the common interests of these four countries, so as to establish peace in the Mediterranean.
What Panagiotis Ioakeimidis tells parapolitika.gr about the quadrilateral cooperation of Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy
Professor Emeritus of European Studies at the University of Athens, Panagiotis Ioakeimidis, speaking to parapolitika.gr clarifies that “these kinds of quadrilateral cooperations in some cases have results, in other cases they don’t. It depends on the region and the subject matter. For example, some cooperation that exists between major powers for intelligence sharing is highly effective. But in this particular case, and as the Turkey factor has entered the entire equation much more intensely than in the past, countries like Italy and to some extent France calculate Ankara’s reactions. Italy in particular, which cooperates with Turkey on industrial policy and defense industry matters, and since Turkey has acquired certain Italian units, is somewhat reluctant to deepen this cooperation. Therefore, its effectiveness is somewhat limited. It cannot develop, cannot open up the range of possibilities it might potentially have. And this applies to some degree with France as well”.
However, the Defense Policy Directors of Cyprus, France, Greece and Italy within the framework of the Quadrilateral Cooperation (QUAD) gave their commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes and that they will rely on diplomacy to achieve regional stability based always on the implementation of International Law.
