Turkey’s sworn enemy, India’s friend…why is Modi govt so interested in Cyprus?

New Delhi: Top Minister Narendra Modi made a two-day talk over with to Cyprus on June 15-16, which became the most important talk over with by an Indian Top Minister in two a protracted time. This talk over with became a part of PM Modi’s three-nation talk over with, which moreover entails Canada (for the G7 summit) and Croatia. This talk over with is taking place at a time when tensions are at their peak in West Asia.

This talk over with to Cyprus is strategic as India is attempting to reshape its family members in the Mediterranean and Europe and Cyprus is playing vital feature on this intention. This talk over with came about after ‘Operation Sindoor’, which is being regarded as as India’s lisp message to Turkey. Turkey has lengthy stood with Pakistan and in fresh years its feature in anti-India actions has increased after which India started strengthening its family members with Cyprus and Greece.

India Cyprus relationship

Cyprus, located in the Mediterranean, grew to change into honest from British rule in 1960. But rapidly tensions started between Cypriots of Greek and Turkish origin. In 1974, a coup became performed in Cyprus with the give a take to of Greece’s navy dictatorship (junta), which aimed to integrate Cyprus with Greece. In response, Turkey launched a navy assault on Cyprus, citing the protection of Turkish Cypriots.

Even though the reliable executive became later restored in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, Turkish troops remained in the northeastern a part of the island. Later that situation declared itself the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ – a political entity acknowledged easiest by Ankara.

India has consistently supported a reply to this project below UN resolutions and international law. India has played a most important feature in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and three Indian navy officers believe served as heads of the UN mission.

Supporter of India’s permanent membership in UNSC

Cyprus has been a solid supporter of India’s international ambitions. The island nation has publicly supported the proposal to grant India permanent membership in the expanded UN Security Council. As well to, Cyprus has moreover supported the India-US civil nuclear deal, in particular in global regulatory institutions impartial like the Nuclear Suppliers Community (NSG) and the Global Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA).

Strengthening India-Cyprus economic ties

Several key economic agreements had been signed in the presence of Top Minister Modi and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides. The 2 leaders welcomed the signing of the MoU between NSE Global Replace GIFT City, Gujarat and the Cyprus Inventory Replace. NIPL (NPCI Global Payments Small) and Eurobank Cyprus agreed to open UPI for inappropriate-border payments between the two countries.

The India-Greece-Cyprus (IGC) Alternate and Funding Council became moreover launched. It goes to promote trilateral cooperation in areas impartial like transport, logistics, renewable energy, civil aviation and digital services and products. The Top Minister welcomed the truth that many Indian companies look Cyprus as a gateway to Europe and a hub for IT services and products, financial administration and tourism.

Hub of funding and replace in Europe for India

Cyprus is changing into a hub of funding and replace in Europe for India. Alternate between India and Cyprus in the financial year 2023-24 became $ 136.96 million. Medicines, ceramics, steel, textiles and machinery are exported from India, while medicines, drinks and other products come to India from Cyprus.

Cyprus plays vital feature for India in Europe

Cyprus is a needed link in India’s ‘India-Center East-Europe Economic Hall (IMEC)’ notion, which connects India to the Center East and Europe. Aside from this, Cyprus moreover has marine energy assets, where India needs to cooperate. Resulting from maritime disputes with Turkey, India needs to give a take to its presence on this situation. Cyprus will chair the European Union in 2026, which might assist India salvage solid companions in Europe for the India-Europe Free Alternate Settlement (FTA).

Defense cooperation between the two countries has been progressing progressively for the explanation that signing of the Memorandum of Working out (MoU) on protection cooperation in December 2022. Taking it extra, the two countries believe finalized the Bilateral Defense Cooperation Program (BDCP) for 2025 in Nicosia. Currently, the Indian Defense Consultant (Defense Attache) for Cyprus is posted at the Indian Embassy in Cairo and is handling the accountability of protection coordination.