Fear of Türkiye is Driving Greece Toward Israel: Former CIA Officer

Fear of Türkiye is driving the Greek government toward Israel, according to former CIA officer John Kiriakou, who argues that Athens is allowing an increasingly permanent Israeli presence.

“The Greeks are afraid of the Turks. The Greeks don’t know where to run, so they run to the Israelis,” Kiriakou said.

He portrayed the relationship as a widening divide between government policy and public sentiment, predicting that the disagreement could produce a political confrontation in Greece.

Fear of Türkiye Drives Athens Toward Israel

Kiriakou said the Greek government was looking to Israel in response to its concerns over Türkiye.

In his account, Athens has gone beyond seeking political or security support and is facilitating a longer-term Israeli footprint inside Greece.

“It’s not just that the Greek government has asked the Israeli government to protect it against Türkiye,” he said. “It’s that the Greek government is opening the doors for the Israelis to come and become a permanent presence in Greece.”

Kiriakou said Greek citizens increasingly believe Israeli influence is expanding beyond the existing relationship between the two governments.

Israel is Expanding Its Presence on Cyprus

Kiriakou said Israelis had sought permission from the Greek government to purchase an entire island, which he described as intended to become a Jewish island.

He also pointed to developments in Cyprus, saying Israeli investors and the Israeli government were purchasing entire villages or neighborhoods in Paphos and Larnaca.

Kiriakou further claimed that Cyprus now hosts an Israeli military base and a Mossad base, developments he said had not previously existed publicly.

He presented those claims as contributing to perceptions in Greece that Israeli involvement could become entrenched rather than temporary.

Public Opposition and Political Risk

Kiriakou said Greek public opinion was moving in the opposite direction from government policy.

“The Greek people want none of this,” he said.

He argued that Greeks did not want deeper commercial relations with Israel but that the government was pressing ahead regardless.

That gap, he said, could eventually force a political reckoning between the government and the electorate.

2027 Election Could Become Flashpoint

Kiriakou pointed to Greece’s 2027 national election as a potential test of the government’s approach.

He said relations with Israel could emerge as a significant campaign issue, alongside economic concerns that have traditionally dominated Greek politics.

Kiriakou predicted that growing unease over Israeli activity, combined with the government’s response to Türkiye, could sharpen domestic political divisions before voters go to the polls.