A major agreement to connect Cyprus and Israel’s electricity systems is expected to be signed within 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Monday.

The deal, part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (Imec), was discussed during a meeting the previous day between Netanyahu and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, who was accompanied by Energy Minister George Papanastasiou. His Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen was also part of discussions.

According to the statement, the project involves laying an undersea cable linking the two countries’ electricity networks. The cable will eventually connect Cyprus to mainland Europe, offering a new route for energy exchange between East and West.

Officials said the interconnection is vital for energy security, particularly for Israel, which is seen as an “energy island” due to its limited links with neighbouring power grids.

Once completed, the cable will form part of the wider Imec initiative, a global infrastructure project led by the United States aiming to strengthen ties between India, the Middle East and Europe.

Talks also covered the pending agreement between Cyprus and Israel over the Aphrodite-Ishai natural gas field. The field lies in waters claimed by both nations.

Negotiations over how to split what is produced are now in their final stages, with a signing expected within the next two months.

In addition to energy, the leaders also discussed humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

Christodoulides pressed the need for a steady flow of aid through Cyprus, proposing a stable cooperation framework for future relief efforts.

“Energy matters, and especially the mechanism for resolving the Aphrodite field issue located within Israel’s exclusive economic zone, were thoroughly discussed,” deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou said.