Cyprus, Energy Routes, and U.S. Interests in the Eastern Mediterranean - MIDDLE EAST FORUM

April 16, 2026

Nicoletta Kouroushi

Cyprus is moving to commercialize its natural gas through Egypt, using existing infrastructure to reach European markets. This reflects a broader shift in the Eastern Mediterranean, where energy influence depends less on ownership of resources and more on control of infrastructure and export routes.

Rather than Pursuing Large-Scale Infrastructure, States Increasingly Rely on Flexible Arrangements Built Around Existing Systems

The Cyprus-Egypt framework agreement establishes the basis for routing gas from offshore fields such as Kronos and Aphrodite to Egyptian liquefaction facilities for export. By relying on existing terminals, Cyprus reduces costs, shortens timelines, and avoids the political and technical risks associated with new pipeline projects.

The agreement strengthens Egypt’s role as a regional liquefied natural gas hub while providing Cyprus with its first export pathway.

Lebanon and Cyprus finalize sea border agreement after an almost 20-year impasse - ASSOCIATED PRESS

November 26, 2025 

Updated 2:02 PM GMT+2

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon and Cyprus signed a long-delayed sea border agreement on Wednesday, ending an almost 20-year impasse that had stalled some oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean Sea, as Europe seeks alternatives to Russian fuel.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides signed the agreement at the Baabda presidential palace outside the Lebanese capital, Beirut, finalizing an initial deal first inked in 2007.

Christodoulides called the deal a “historic agreement” in a joint press conference with Aoun, who in turn said the signing sends “a clear ... invitation” to anyone who wants to cooperate with Lebanon.

8-9 trillion cubic feet in Cyprus EEZ’s Pegasus, Glaucus blocks - CYPRUS MAIL / CNA

Friday 26 September | 09:38 

By Cyprus News Agency

The Pegasus and Glaucus blocks in Cyprus’ EEZ may contain as much as 8-9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, ExxonMobil officials told President Nikos Christodoulides in New York overnight.

On the sidelines of the UN general assembly, Christodoulides met a delegation from ExxonMobil headed by Vice President John Ardill, who outlined the latest figures.

He stressed that the Cyprus government attaches great importance to ExxonMobil’s presence in its EEZ, adding that “our cooperation is excellent and always based on honesty. I look forward to the assessment of the results for Pegasus, as well as for Block 10.”

Ardill emphasised that progress had been achieved and highlighted the success of the surveys at Pegasus.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus held a videoconference with the Vice President of ExxonMobil - REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS PRESIDENCY

07/07/25 18:17  |  Press release  |  Energy, Commerce and Industry, Government Spokesperson, President of the Republic / Presidency

During today’s videoconference between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, and the Vice President of ExxonMobil, Mr John Ardill, in the presence of the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr George Papanastasiou, and the Country Manager of ExxonMobil Cyprus, Mr Varnavas Theodossiou, President Christodoulides was briefed on the new natural gas discovery made at “Pegasus-1” well, in Block 10 of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus.

The discovery follows the successful completion of drilling operations conducted by the consortium of ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus (Offshore) Limited (Operator) and QatarEnergy International E&P LLC.

TotalEnergies and ENI sign an agreement with Cyprus and Egypt for the export of Cyprus Block 6 gas through Egypt - TOTALENERGIES

02/17/2025

Paris/Cairo, February 17, 2025 – In the presence of President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and President of Cyprus Níkos Christodoulídis, TotalEnergies and ENI, partners in Cyprus offshore Block 6 (TotalEnergies 50%, ENI 50% operator), have signed today a Host Government Agreement (HGA) with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Cyprus related to the development of Block 6 gas resources.

Signed during the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES) with the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Karim Badawi, and the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, George Papanastasiou, this agreement is a key milestone towards the development of the Cronos gas field. Located in Cyprus Block 6, Cronos field was discovered in 2022 and successfully appraised in February 2024.

The agreement provides a framework allowing the Cronos gas to be processed in the existing Zohr facilities offshore Egypt and then liquefied in the Damietta LNG plant in Egypt, for export to European markets.

Following the signature of this agreement, the Block 6 partners will now proceed with the Cronos Development and Production Plan, in close collaboration with Cyprus authorities.

ExxonMobil launches 'promising' exploration well off Cyprus, President says - REUTERS

NICOSIA, Jan 24 (Reuters) - ExxonMobil (XOM.N) and Qatar Energy on Friday began exploratory drilling for natural gas in a prospect west of Cyprus, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said on X.

The east Mediterranean has yielded some major gas discoveries in recent years, and a disruption in energy supplies from Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine has sharpened Europe's attention on securing alternative sources of supply.

"Cyprus progresses exploration activities, aiming to be an alternative and reliable source of natural gas for the EU," Christodoulides wrote in his post.

He said drilling at the prospect, named Electra, got underway on Friday morning.

ExxonMobil executives have previously described Electra as 'highly promising'.

The company secured hydrocarbon exploration licences for Cyprus in 2017. Other multinationals in the region include U.S.'s Chevron (CVX.N), Italy's Eni (ENI.MI), and France's TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA).

Egypt, Cyprus, Greece leaders agree to develop joint energy projects at Cairo trilateral summit - EGYPT TODAY

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 - 02:41 GMT

CAIRO – 8 January 2025: Leaders of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece have agreed on the necessity to develop joint energy projects as they held the 10th trilateral cooperation mechanism summit in Cairo on Wednesday.

“The energy file was strongly present in our talks today,” President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said in a joint press conference with Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus following their meeting.

Sisi said they agreed on the need for developing joint projects in renewable energy, electrical interconnection, natural gas transportation, and power linkage infrastructure enhancement.

These projects aim to achieve regional integration in this sector and effectively ensure international energy security, which has suffered turbulence amidst latest global crises, the Egyptian president added.

‘Energy giants from Gulf states’ interested in Cypriot natural gas - CYPRUS MAIL

15 November 2024

Tom Cleaver

“Energy giants from Gulf states” are interested in possibly drilling for natural gas in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday.

Addressing the Energy symposium in Nicosia, he said this interest constitutes a “vote of confidence in the prospects of Cyprus’ EEZ”.

He said work is “progressing intensively” regarding the ‘Aphrodite’ deposit in block 12, with Energy Minister George Papanastasiou having said last week that the revised plan for the deposit submitted by American corporation Chevron in September is now being “discussed at a technocratic level”.

On the matter of the ‘Kronos’ reservoir, he said Italian energy company Eni are expected to submit a development plan soon, and that he had held a telephone conversation with the company’s head Claudio Descalzi on Thursday.

Papanastasiou said last week that Eni is “fast tracking” the process.

“We expect this month or next for there to be a development and production plan” for the deposit in question, Papanastasiou said, adding that the gas from the ‘Kronos’ reservoir will also be taken to Egypt for liquefaction and subsequent export.

Israel, Cyprus and Greece mull energy pacts - and yoghurt - REUTERS

September 4, 202310:37 PM GMT+8
Michele Kambas

NICOSIA, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The leaders of Israel, Greece and Cyprus on Monday pledged to deepen energy cooperation and explore ways to get East Mediterranean gas to Europe, as well as connect electricity grids.

The eastern Mediterranean has yielded major gas discoveries in the past decade, mostly off Israel and Egypt, with interest rising since Russia's invasion of Ukraine hit flows to Europe.

"We will have to decide soon about how Israel exports its gas and the same decisions have to be made by Cyprus. We are looking at the possibility of cooperating on this," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters in Nicosia after a tripartite summit with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides.

"Those decisions will be made, I think, in the next three to six months, probably closer to three months," he said.

Electricity cable needs power surge - FINANCIAL MIRROR

16 JULY 2023

With Nicosia hosting the trilateral meeting of heads of state on July 26, Cyprus, Greece, and Israel leaders will meet for the first time – two-re-elected and a newcomer.

Top on their agenda of common challenges will be energy, although cooperation on defence, water and regional conflicts will also be discussed, and relations with Turkey.

As a priority, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs help to deal with Israel’s energy deficit, which is expected to hit rock bottom by 2025-2027 due to delays in bringing online new, efficient, and renewables-friendly power stations.

PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis will emphasise that Greece is pushing ahead with its Alexandroupolis energy hub and hopes natural gas flows from the eastern Mediterranean will transform it into a major player, in addition to the solar parks and wind farms mushrooming throughout the country.

Cyprus changes tack with plan for Mediterranean gas link to Israel - REUTERS

June 21, 20235:22 AM GMT+3
Michele Kambas

• Cyprus wants shorter gas pipeline to Israel
• Part of broader project to get EastMed gas to Europe fast
• New Cyprus government talking to Israel on plans
• Longer pipeline through Med 'challenging'

NICOSIA, June 20 (Reuters) - Cyprus hopes to develop plans for a pipeline linking it to Israel's east Mediterranean gas fields during talks which start next month, the island's top energy official told Reuters.

Proposals by the new centrist Cypriot government, which came to power in March, represent a markedly different approach to its predecessors in getting gas to Europe and other markets.

Cyprus Wants Shipping Corridor to Export Mediterranean Gas to Europe - OFFSHORE ENGINEER

May 29, 2023

Michele Kambas

Cyprus wants to establish itself as a gateway from east Mediterranean gas resources to Europe via a shipping corridor of LNG carriers, its president said on Monday. 

Cyprus's new centrist government, which came to power in February, has cooled to the idea championed by its predecessors of an "EastMed" pipeline transferring gas to Europe.

Instead, authorities now want to transport, via pipeline, natural gas from fields in the eastern Mediterranean to the island for use in domestic conventional power generation, with an additional LNG facility to process for European markets, President Nikos Christodoulides said.

Greece, Cyprus, Israel plan trilateral leaders’ summit - JNS (JEWISH NEWS SYNDICATE)

February 27, 2023 / JNS

Etgar Lefkovits

A summit attended by the leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Israel is planned for later this year, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced Monday.

The gathering will take place amid burgeoning relations between Israel and both Cyprus and Greece over the last decade and a half in a variety of fields including tourism, medicine, cybersecurity, energy and military cooperation.

The decision to organize such a regional meeting was made during a Sunday night phone call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the president-elect of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.

The two men discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields, a readout of the conversation said.

The Cypriot leader, who will assume office on Tuesday, offered condolences over Sunday’s Palestinian terrorist attack in which two Israeli brothers were killed. He is expected to visit Israel soon at the prime minister’s invitation.

Energy Hot Potatoes The New President Will Face [GGP] - NATURAL GAS WORLD

Feb 21, 2023 9:25:am
Charles Ellinas

Cyprus has a new president. A new era is starting and that includes energy. Many serious old problems remain and are in need of urgent attention. Some energy hot potatoes that must be addressed and resolved to usher in the energy reforms and economic prosperity President-elect Nikos Christodoulides has promised.

Thousands of households are applying or planning to apply to install rooftop photovoltaics to benefit from a substantial reduction in their electricity costs. But as the DSO and TSO warned in their 20 January letter, that attracted the wrath of the outgoing energy minister, Cyprus’ outdated electrical system is at a tipping point. Without upgrading it, installing storage batteries and smart meters, the risk of instability and inevitably power cuts is getting uncomfortably close. Resolving this problem needs to be given top priority.