This paper examines the evolving geoeconomic and strategic-security environment of the Eastern Mediterranean, focusing on Greece and Cyprus as frontline states exposed to maritime disputes, energy competition, financial vulnerabilities, and critical infrastructure risks. Adopting a qualitative and interdisciplinary comparative approach grounded in geopolitical analysis, security studies, and geoeconomic assessment, the study explores how both states increasingly integrate maritime security, energy resilience, financial stability, cyber governance, and strategic infrastructure protection into broader geoeconomic security strategies.

The paper introduces the concept of geoeconomic counterintelligence as a defensive and resilience-oriented framework through which medium-sized states seek to identify, monitor, and mitigate external influence over critical infrastructure and strategic sectors. The study argues that contemporary strategic competition increasingly operates through infrastructure systems, technological dependencies, financial networks, and regulatory influence rather than exclusively through conventional military means.

Through comparative analysis of Greece and Cyprus, the paper demonstrates how alliance networking, legal-institutional mechanisms, infrastructure resilience, and geoeconomic statecraft may partially compensate for structural vulnerabilities within an unstable regional environment.

The findings suggest that the Eastern Mediterranean is evolving into a strategic space where economic networks, energy systems, maritime infrastructure, and technological platforms increasingly function as instruments of geopolitical competition and strategic leverage.

The paper concludes that long-term resilience for Greece and Cyprus depends on integrating diplomatic, economic, technological, regulatory, and security tools into coherent geoeconomic strategies aligned with broader EU and regional security structures.