The United States, Cyprus, Greece, and Israel have formalized a new energy partnership aimed at securing infrastructure and boosting natural gas development in the Eastern Mediterranean.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed a Declaration of Intent (DOI) alongside Cypriot Energy Minister Michael Damianos, Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, and Israeli Ambassador to the US Dr. Yechiel Leiter. To anchor the initiative, the group partnered with Rice University President Reginald DesRoches to establish the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center (EMEC) on the university’s Houston campus.

The agreement operationalizes a core objective of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, a bipartisan framework originally passed by Congress in 2019 to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the region by solidifying US allied energy ties.

Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center will focus on infrastructure and LNG

According to the agreement, the center will serve as a hub for both public and private sector collaboration. Key priorities include:

• Expanding natural gas development and US Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure
• Securing regional energy transportation networks and bolstering power grid reliability
• Facilitating scientific research, joint technology development, and workforce training

The decision to place the center in Houston, the energy capital of the US, is aimed at directly connecting Eastern Mediterranean policymakers with American industry leaders and engineering talent.

Strategic regional realignment

The partnership arrives as Europe and the Mediterranean continue to reshape their supply chains. With the US currently operating as the world’s leading oil and gas producer and largest LNG exporter, Washington views the Eastern Mediterranean as a critical geographic corridor for global energy stability.

“The Eastern Mediterranean is an increasingly important region for global energy development,” Secretary Wright said, noting that the Houston-based center will leverage “industry leaders in hydrocarbon development” to benefit all member nations.

Papastavrou described the occasion as a “historic moment,” saying that “Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the United States are joining forces to deepen our strategic cooperation and enhance connectivity in the Eastern Mediterranean through the establishment of the East Med Energy Center.”

He added that EMEC would provide a permanent platform for advancing regional stability, energy security, and economic cooperation by bringing together scientific expertise, academic excellence, the private sector, technological innovation, and energy know-how.

According to Papastavrou, the 3+1 scheme has demonstrated that reliable partners sharing a common strategic vision can deliver tangible results, advance shared interests, and contribute to a safer, more prosperous and affordable energy future. While the administrative details of the center’s funding and exact rollout schedule have not yet been disclosed, the declaration establishes the formal diplomatic and academic framework required to begin joint operations.

Related: Greece Signs Landmark 20-Year LNG Deal With the US

Greece is marking World Environment Day 2026 with a nationwide program of events that brings the global call for climate action down to the local level—from protected areas and wetlands to city galleries, museums, and island beaches.

Observed every year on June 5, World Environment Day is the United Nations’ main global platform for raising awareness and mobilizing action to protect the natural world. First celebrated in 1973, the day has grown into an international campaign involving governments, organizations, schools, communities and citizens around the world.

In Greece, the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, NECCA, is at the center of the program, organizing 65 events across the country. Activities include guided nature walks, biodiversity recording, wildlife observation, educational games, workshops, public information events and volunteer cleanups, many of them in or near protected areas.

Greece’s government highlights achievements on World Environment Day

Greece’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, highlighted some of the government’s environmental policies and key achievements over the past seven years.

• Expanded Marine Protection: Moving forward from commitments made at global ocean conferences (2024 in Athens and 2025 at the UN), Greece is establishing two new large National Marine Parks in the Ionian and South Aegean seas. This will double protected waters to 36% of territorial waters, surpassing the EU’s 30% target well ahead of 2030.
• Banning Industrial Fishing: Greece is pioneering marine conservation internationally by completely banning bottom trawling in all national marine parks.
• Renewable Energy Zoning Restrictions: New regulations prohibit the installation of solar farms in all Natura areas, forests, and woodlands, and ban wind farms at altitudes above 1,200 meters (3,937 ft).
• “Untrodden” Landscapes: Greece has introduced pioneering designations for strict ecological preservation, establishing thirteen “Untrodden Mountains” and 250 highly protected “Untrodden Beaches” to limit human development in sensitive ecosystems.
• Targeted Species & Habitat Conservation: Twelve National Action Plans have been launched to protect endangered species (including the brown bear, Mediterranean monk seal, Loggerhead sea turtle, and bearded vulture). Additionally, all major wetlands (Ramsar sites) and Key Biodiversity Areas are now placed under strict legislative protection.