Greece's alliance with India in the Mediterranean: Souda Bay and potential cruise missiles

Greece and India are establishing a common front against Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean.

India appears determined to deepen its military cooperation with Greece, at a time when Ankara's revisionist agenda complicates the geopolitical chessboard of the Eastern Mediterranean. The recent passage of an Indian frigate near Souda Bay and its joint training with the missile boat "Ritsos" south of Crete were indicative, while New Delhi remains in open confrontation with Ankara over the military support it provided to Islamabad.

New Delhi's choice to send the fleet's newest frigate, the "INS Tamal" (F-70), a Talwar-class frigate, to Souda was not just a coincidence. On its voyage from Kaliningrad, Russia, to India, "INS Tamal" sailed to Crete and on August 22 carried out a PASSEX-type joint training exercise with the missile cruiser "Ritsos", in a maritime area that is often at the epicenter of Greek-Turkish disputes.

In a statement, the Indian Navy emphasized that the visit underscores India's commitment to strengthening ties with Greece and expanding defense cooperation, noting that it also creates new opportunities for exchanging experiences and best practices.

The visit of the "INS Tamal" was accompanied by contacts of the crew with senior officers of the Navy, as well as a tour of the NATO facilities in Souda. According to Iapogevmatini, New Delhi has expressed its intention to strengthen its military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the relocation of fighter aircraft and the chartering of warships in Souda, a prospect that is viewed positively by Athens.

The strengthening of bilateral relations is also reflected in the aviation sector. On June 23, 2025, the Chief of the Air Staff, Lieutenant General Demosthenes Grigoriadis, welcomed his counterpart, Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, to Athens, following an official invitation.

During their talks, ways to upgrade cooperation were examined both at the operational and educational levels, while the Indian official was informed about the organization and work of the Air Force. The existing cooperation has already been strengthened with the participation of the two air forces in exercises such as "Iniochos 23" and "Iniochos 25", as well as in the multinational "Tarang Shakti 24", which promotes interoperability and strategic convergence between Greece and India. As part of his visit, the Indian Air Force chief visited combat wings of the Hellenic Air Force as well as the Icarus School at Dhekelia Air Base.

Cruise missiles

In the same context, following the official visit of the Indian Air Force chief to Athens and New Delhi’s participation in this year’s DEFEA-25 exhibition, information of particular importance for Greek defense policy was released. India has reportedly proposed to Greece the transfer of technology or even the co-production of long-range cruise missiles (LR-LACM) with a range of up to 1,000 km, a proposal that, if implemented, could give the Greek arsenal strategic strike capabilities.

The system was enthusiastically presented by Indian officials, who, according to Iapogevmatini, spoke of a historic opportunity for strategic convergence between Greece and India. This prospect, combined with joint exercises and cooperation around the Rafale, as well as India’s growing presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, does not go unnoticed by Ankara.

In the Turkish media, Greek-Indian cooperation is increasingly being presented as a relationship that approaches the characteristics of a geostrategic axis, with all that this implies for the balance of power in the region.

Multifaceted cooperation

All these moves complement a series of initiatives that confirm the intention of Athens and New Delhi to upgrade their multifaceted cooperation. Beyond the defense sector, agreements have been concluded in various areas, including technology, investment, education, tourism, and culture.

The prospects of bilateral relations are further strengthened, as Greece actively supports the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), seeking to become India's natural gateway to the European continent.

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