Israel and Greece put on a dramatic show of naval power on October 21, 2026, when their warships held joint drills in the Cretan Sea. The exercise included Spike NLOS guided missiles and a submarine-fired torpedo, which sank the Greek frigate Bouboulina, a vessel that had been decommissioned. Top commanders from both navies were there to watch. The Israel Defense Forces called the drill a "significant leap forward in naval military cooperation between the two countries." Many observers see it as an apparent signal to Turkey.

The timing matters, because the Eastern Mediterranean is already tense. Libya recently signed an agreement with Turkey that both Greece and Israel oppose, and the drill comes right after it. Officials say joint activity like this strengthens interoperability and operational readiness, meaning the two navies can work together more smoothly if they ever have to. Neither country has said the exercise targets anyone in particular, and the "message to Turkey" reading comes from the way it has been interpreted. Whether Ankara responds, and how, is now the big question hanging over the region.