Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making history with his upcoming visit to Greece, the first Indian PM to do so since 1983. This visit underscores strengthened ties between the nations. India’s strategic partnership with Greece sends a clear message to Turkey, highlighting support on key issues including Jammu and Kashmir and the Greece-Turkey dispute. Greece’s backing against terrorism contrasts with Turkey’s alignment with Pakistan. Additionally, their alignment on Indo-Pacific openness enhances the partnership.
PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Greece next week, the first by an Indian PM to the country in 40 years, will see bilateral ties upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Looking to benefit from the strong convergence of interests with India on regional and global issues, Greece wants to emerge as India’s gateway to Europe. PM Modi will pay a day-long visit to Athens on August 25, on his way back from South Africa where he will be participating in the Brics summit.
Several agreements are likely to be signed after his meeting with Greece PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis in which the two leaders will focus on a range of issues including trade and investment, shipping, migration, culture and defence cooperation. The Prime Minister will also address an Indian community event later in the day.
“We really want to act as India’s gateway to Europe. And we’re ready for it, offering a comprehensive privatisation scheme that includes seaports and airports and logistics hubs for Indian investors to start the gateway,” said Greece Charge d’affaires Alexandros Boudouris to TOI. Foreign minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Greece in 2021 saw the two sides expressing commitment to the idea of a strategic partnership between the 2 countries. Greece is looking to attract more investment and talent from India and the 2 countries last year signed a Declaration of Intent on Migration and Mobility.
Both sides share their commitment to multilateralism and rules-based international order and hold similar views on complex issues related to Afghanistan, Ukraine and the contested eastern Mediterranean where Greece is involved in a dispute with Turkey. India’s decision to enter into a strategic partnership with Greece will also send out a message loud and clear to Turkey, a country that has been relentless in its backing of Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the Indian government, bilateral ties with Greece have been marked by ‘consistent support’ to each other on issues of core national interest, like Jammu and Kashmir and the long-running Greece-Turkey dispute over Cyprus. Greece has strongly stood by India on cross-border terrorism and on the need to counter radicalisation and violent extremism.
Unlike Turkey, which backed Pakistan, Greece didn’t issue any statement after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and Indian authorities believe its position over the years on the Kashmir issue has been supportive of India. Despite its close ties with China, Greece also shares India’s vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific that’s focused on connectivity and growth of all. Significantly, PM Modi will also become the first Indian PM to visit Greece since Indira Gandhi in 1983. In fact, this will be the first bilateral visit at that level by either side since 2008 when then Greek PM visited India.