Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to undertake a significant two-day official visit to Cyprus on June 15-16, 2025, at the invitation of Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. This landmark visit marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the island nation in 23 years, heralding a renewed focus on bolstering strategic and economic partnerships between the two countries.
The visit will commence on June 15, with President Christodoulides personally welcoming Prime Minister Modi upon his arrival at Larnaca's "Glafkos Clerides" International Airport. Following the arrival, both leaders will travel to Limassol to participate in a roundtable discussion with prominent business figures from India and Cyprus. This engagement aims to explore and enhance avenues for economic collaboration and investment. The day will conclude with an informal working dinner, providing an opportunity for the leaders to engage in candid discussions.
The official engagements will intensify on Monday, June 16, beginning with a formal reception for Prime Minister Modi at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. This will be followed by a private one-on-one meeting between President Christodoulides and Prime Minister Modi. In a notable gesture of diplomatic goodwill, President Christodoulides will confer upon Prime Minister Modi the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, Cyprus's highest civilian honor.
Subsequently, expanded talks will be held between the delegations of the two countries. The agenda for these discussions is comprehensive, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in the sectors of economy, trade, infrastructure, and investment. Broader geopolitical issues will also be addressed, including EU-India relations, the progress of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the prevailing security situation in the Middle East and South Asia, and the latest developments concerning the Cyprus issue. Following the talks, President Christodoulides and Prime Minister Modi will deliver joint statements to the media.
Later in the day, the two leaders are scheduled to visit Nicosia City Hall. A poignant part of the itinerary will include a tour along the Green Line, the UN-patrolled ceasefire line that has divided the capital and the island since 1974.
The visit will culminate with an official lunch hosted by President Christodoulides in honor of Prime Minister Modi at the Presidential Palace. Immediately after, Mr. Modi is expected to conclude his visit and depart from Cyprus.
Geopolitical Context: India's Displeasure with Turkey-Pakistan Axis
Prime Minister Modi's visit to Cyprus, beyond its significant bilateral implications, is also being viewed through the lens of regional geopolitics, particularly in light of India's growing frustration with the close strategic and diplomatic ties between Turkey and Pakistan.
Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has increasingly aligned itself with Pakistan on various international platforms, often echoing Islamabad's position on sensitive issues such as Kashmir. This stance has not gone unnoticed in New Delhi, which views Turkey's pronouncements as interference in its internal affairs and a departure from Ankara's traditionally more neutral position. Furthermore, the burgeoning defense cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan, including joint military exercises and arms sales, has raised concerns in India about the potential impact on regional security dynamics in South Asia.
Cyprus, on the other hand, has its own longstanding and complex relationship with Turkey, stemming from the 1974 Turkish invasion and the ongoing occupation of the northern part of the island. India has consistently supported Cyprus's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and has called for a resolution to the Cyprus issue based on United Nations resolutions.
This shared context makes Cyprus a significant partner for India in the Eastern Mediterranean. By strengthening ties with Nicosia, New Delhi is subtly signaling its displeasure with Ankara's foreign policy choices, particularly its alignment with Pakistan. The high-profile visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus can be interpreted as a strategic move to cultivate relationships with nations that share similar concerns about Turkish assertiveness or its alliances. It underscores India's approach to engaging with like-minded countries to counterbalance geopolitical alignments it perceives as unfavorable to its interests, thereby adding a layer of strategic depth to an already crucial bilateral relationship.
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