Dipanjan Mondal
16 June, 2025:
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on Monday, where the Indian leader was accorded an official ceremonial reception. Following the formal welcome, both leaders introduced members of their respective delegations, marking the start of high-level bilateral engagements.
The President of Cyprus, H.E. Nikos Christodoulides, today conferred upon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Cyprus’s honour – the "Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III”.
Accepting the honour on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, the Prime Minister expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the President, the Government, and the people of Cyprus. He dedicated the award to the longstanding warm ties between India and Cyprus, which are built on shared values and mutual trust. He further noted that the award was a recognition of India’s age-old philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or "The World is one Family” that guides its vision for global peace and progress.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Cyprus on Sunday, June 15, kicking off the first leg of his three-nation tour that will also take him to Canada for the G7 Summit and later to Croatia. He was received at Larnaka International Airport by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the island nation in over two decades.
Following his arrival, Prime Minister Modi travelled to Lemesos, where he received a warm welcome from both the Indian community and the people of Cyprus. A large gathering of students, professionals, and diaspora members turned out to greet him, marking the occasion as a significant moment in the growing ties between India and Cyprus.
Photos shared by Prime Minister Modi on his X handle show him being warmly received at the airport by President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, with whom he is scheduled to hold formal talks during his two-day visit.
“Landed in Cyprus. My gratitude to the President of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. This visit will add significant momentum to India-Cyprus relations, especially in areas like trade, investment and more," PM Modi posted.
A key highlight of the visit was Prime Minister Modi’s address at the India-Cyprus CEO Forum in Limassol, where he projected India as a global hub for digital innovation, infrastructure development, and economic opportunity. He also noted that India and the European Union are working towards concluding a free trade agreement by the end of the year.
Upon his arrival, PM Modi, along with Cyprus President Christodoulides, interacted with leading CEOs. During the interaction, PM Modi spoke about India's reform trajectory in the last decade.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Boosting business linkages! President Nikos Christodoulides and I interacted with leading CEOs to add vigour to commercial linkages between India and Cyprus. Sectors like innovation, energy, technology and more offer immense potential. I also talked about India's reform trajectory in the last decade."
The Cyprus Presidency in a post on X said that Cyprus is deepening and expanding economic cooperation with India.
In a post on X, it said, “Roundtable discussion with the Indian Prime Minister and members of the Cyprus and Indian business communities: Today, we are building more bridges; we are deepening and expanding economic cooperation between Cyprus and India. Together, we are entering a new era of strategic partnership, founded on trust and our shared values, driven by innovation and inspired by our rich historical journey and the vast horizon that opens before us. Together, Cyprus and India send a strong message of cooperation and prosperity, and at the same time, a message of hope.”
Beyond the ceremonial optics, the visit carries significant strategic weight in the current geopolitical climate. According to diplomatic sources, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Cyprus is a strategic move aimed at advancing India’s Mediterranean outreach and countering the growing alignment between Turkey and Pakistan. Cyprus’s maritime connectivity and its pivotal location in the region position it as a potential node in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
With Cyprus set to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union Council in 2026, Prime Minister Modi’s visit, the first by an Indian leader to the island nation in 23 years, paves the way for deeper India-EU engagement during Cyprus’s leadership term.
The timing of the visit is also significant, coming amid heightened Turkey-Pakistan solidarity, particularly in the wake of Turkey’s vocal support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Given its own territorial disputes with Turkey, Cyprus is seen as a natural partner in India’s efforts to build alliances that counter Turkish regional assertiveness.
Cyprus has consistently supported India on critical issues such as Kashmir, cross-border terrorism, and United Nations Security Council reforms, further cementing its role as a reliable partner in India’s diplomatic strategy, the sources added.
Noted geostrategist and foreign policy expert Brahma Chellaney observed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cyprus is likely to be seen by Ankara as a signal of India’s growing proximity to Turkey’s regional rivals, including Nicosia.
“Turkey is likely to view Modi’s visit to gas-rich Cyprus as a signal of India deepening ties with Ankara’s regional rivals, including Greece, Armenia and Egypt. Yet, unlike Turkey’s strategic and military nexus with Pakistan, Cyprus has long stood by India, including backing its bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council,” he said.
“Set to assume the EU Council presidency next year, Cyprus is a pivotal link in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). India’s engagement could enhance Cyprus’s role in energy diplomacy while expanding New Delhi’s footprint in the Mediterranean and reinforcing the Mediterranean coalition opposing Turkish expansionism,” he further said.
The Cyprus visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s attendance at the G7 Summit in Canada, at a time when India-Canada relations remain strained. Strengthening ties with European partners like Cyprus offers New Delhi valuable diplomatic leverage going into this high-stakes global engagement.
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