Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Cyprus on Sunday, completing a great diplomatic coup as the first Indian Prime Minister to set foot on the Mediterranean island nation in more than two decades.
Received with complete ceremonial honours by the Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides at Larnaca International Airport, the visit heralded the creation of renewed Indo-Cypriot relations.
Both leaders showed commitment towards the promotion of cooperation across various domains ranging from trade, technology, education, to cultural interaction.
Indian diaspora in Cyprus welcomed PM Modi with a thunderous reception, chanting "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai." In the crowd, a supporter stood with a yellow board that read, "Jai Hind, Operation Sindoor, Justice is Served," in reference to a new Indian counterterror operation.
As part of his visit to three nations on his diplomatic tour, the Cyprus leg — a week before the G7 Summit in Canada — highlights India's strategic aim at strengthening longstanding global friendships while forging new bridges of cooperation.
Cyprus itself confirmed the robustness of its friendship with India as a relationship "that knows no limits.
PM Modi shared highlights from the visit via a video posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The timing of the visit is noteworthy, as Cyprus is set to take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026. Modi’s presence signalled India’s desire to deepen its presence in both the Mediterranean region and the broader EU landscape.
During his public statement, the Prime Minister offered sincere thanks for the welcome and referred to the democratic values and enduring historical links that bind India and Cyprus together.
Over the course of his two-day visit, PM Modi will have detailed bilateral talks with President Christodoulides, attend a business roundtable in Limassol, and be awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III — the highest civil honor conferred by Cyprus.
Major areas of discussion are deepening cooperation in renewable energy, digital revolution, infrastructure development, and higher education.
A recent initiative by Cyprus to open a Eurobank representative office in Mumbai has been hailed as a step towards building stronger financial links between Europe and South Asia.
Exceeding economic and diplomatic levels, the visit also reflects larger geopolitical forces.
Cyprus has always supported India's stands on key global issues, such as its strong opposition to cross-border terror. This is in contrast to Turkey's more critical attitude towards India's internal affairs, as Cyprus has become a reliable friend and outspoken champion of India's foreign goals, especially at international institutions like the United Nations.
The visit has been universally acclaimed in the local press as a milestone in Cyprus–India relations, full of symbolic and strategic meaning.
After his activities in Cyprus, PM Modi will then head to Canada to join the G7 Summit in Kananaskis at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney. The summit will provide India with an opportunity to share views on major global issues, with particular emphasis on priorities of the Global South.
PM Modi has also made preparations to take part in interactions with leaders of a number of partner countries during the summit.
On June 18, the Prime Minister will journey to Croatia for top-level talks with President Zoran Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. The trip will be historic, as it is the first time that an Indian Prime Minister will be stepping foot in Croatia.
In a pre-departure message, PM Modi penned: "Since this is the first-ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia, it will mark new opportunities for bilateral cooperation on issues of mutual interest. The tour of the three nations is also a chance to express gratitude to partner nations for their consistent support to India in our battle against cross-border terrorism, and to raise global awareness on combating terrorism in all its manifestations and dimensions."
Read also| IDF Rejects Iran’s Report on F‑35 Loss, Accuses Iranian Outlets of Spreading Lies
Read also| Home Secretary to Head PM‑Backed High‑Level Panel Probing Air India Flight AI‑171 Crash
