From Nicosia to IMEC: Modi's strategic visit to Cyprus and the new chapter in India and Greece relations

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) took another significant step forward today, following the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Cyprus on Sunday and Monday.

Amidst intense turmoil in the Middle East, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Cyprus on Sunday afternoon, bringing multiple messages for the relations between the two countries and, by extension, for Greece.

It is indicative that on Monday, the "historic" Joint Declaration of Partnership, as described, was signed in Nicosia, further deepening bilateral relations between Cyprus and India.

A message of strength from Modi to Cyprus: Geopolitical messages and Greek interest

The visit is part of the Indian Prime Minister's trip to Croatia and Canada, where he will participate in the G7 Summit, scheduled for June 15-17. His stop in Nicosia for bilateral contacts, beyond the strategic importance attributed to it, also signals, as the Indian newspaper The Hindu had pointed out in early June, "a message to Türkiye, which had assisted Pakistan during Operation Sindoor."

Moreover, Narendra Modi’s presence in Cyprus is also significant from a political point of view, as Cyprus is one of the key pillars in the strategic development of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, known as IMEC.

The same cooperative and supportive framework also permeates Athens’ relations with New Delhi.

It is interesting, however, that in May, an inter-party delegation of the Indian Parliament visited Greece and had a series of meetings with representatives of the Greek Parliament. Notable was the remark of the president of the Greece-India Friendship Parliamentary Group, Maria Antoniou: "Greece can play a key role as a multi-level gateway (strategic, geopolitical and commercial) of India to Europe, with an emphasis on major geopolitical projects that promote connectivity between the Indo-Pacific and Europe and lead, in various ways, to Greece."

This reference was not accidental, as the Greek government has intensified its contacts with India following the visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to New Delhi in 2024 and the corresponding visit of Modi to Athens earlier, with Athens attempting to form close cooperation at both economic and strategic levels.

Greece for India is a geostrategic hub that will provide it with an outlet to the Balkans and Western European countries, allowing it to channel its products to the markets.

IMEC seeks to play this role, as it will be a large economic, trade, and energy corridor and enjoys the support of the US, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Italy, and the European Union. It will connect the port of Mumbai with Europe, opening up a massive opportunity for Greece.

However, plans for IMEC remain frozen as long as the conflicts in the Middle East continue.

At the same time, both Greece and Cyprus are looking forward to boosting the tourist flow from the most populous country in the world. Indian companies operating in tourism and other economic activities, as well as Cypriot, Greek, and European companies, have already established branches in Cyprus.

It is worth noting that Greece and India have signed bilateral agreements to facilitate the influx of workers from India, although no significant progress has been made yet.

23 years since the last visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus

Twenty-three years have passed since the last time an Indian prime minister officially visited Cyprus. It was in 2002 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Indira Gandhi also visited Cyprus in 1982.

Over the years, Cyprus and India have always had supportive relations. Cyprus has supported India in its dispute with Pakistan over the sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947, while New Delhi has supported the Republic of Cyprus in resolving the Cyprus issue based on UN Security Council resolutions, International Law, and the European Union acquis.

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