The diplomatic relations between India and Greece had been established in Might 1950 whereas India opened its resident Embassy in Athens 28 years later in March 1978. 5 years later, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Greece in 1983. However, the bilateral relations between the 2 nations progressed step by step with no successive Prime Ministers visiting the European nation for the subsequent 40 years till 2023 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the nation on his Greece counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ invitation. Since then, the 2 nations have been working to develop nearer and stronger ties. To additional bolster ties and fight regional challenges, India invited Greece’s PM on a state go to.
PM Modi On Greece Ties
Greece PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis is at present on a state go to to India. India and Greece have fashioned a working group to extend mutual coordination on widespread challenges like defence, cyber safety, counter-terrorism, and maritime safety. The joint working group on defence might result in India’s bigger presence within the Mediterranean Sea, thus making India the third key companion within the Sea together with Italy and Egypt. Within the phrases of Prime Minister Modi, “New alternatives for co-production and co-development are being created in defence manufacturing in India, which will be helpful for each international locations. We have now agreed to hyperlink the defence industries of each international locations. India and Greece have widespread considerations and priorities within the struggle towards terrorism. We mentioned intimately the best way to additional strengthen our cooperation on this space.”
Had a productive assembly with PM @kmitsotakis earlier at present. Our talks coated key areas like know-how, prescription drugs, ability improvement, area and innovation. We additionally agreed to spice up cooperation in areas like transport, connectivity and defence. pic.twitter.com/cYzj3OtMHQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 21, 2024
India A Nice Energy, Says PM Mitsotakis
However, PM Mitsotakis termed India as an important energy on the world stage. He mentioned that India is a vital ally within the pursuit of peace and safety. “Greece’s geographic and strategic proximity makes it an interlocutor between India and Europe, and between the International North and the South….Greece presents huge alternatives as a logistics centre and worldwide gateway, facilitating connectivity and commerce between India, the Center East, and Europe,” mentioned PM Mitsotakis. He added that India and Greece should work collectively to advertise peace and stability via tasks just like the India-Center East-Europe Hall, which may result in prosperity for all collaborating international locations.
Why Does Greece Matter To India?
India is at present the world’s fastest-growing main economic system and if it needs to keep up the tempo of its development, then international commerce turns into a vital issue. With China rising its affect within the Indian Ocean in addition to within the Mediterranean Sea, India can not sit again and watch the developments like a wallflower.
Counter To China
China has prolonged its affect within the area, notably by fostering connections with Greece. By way of its Belt & Highway Initiative, China has invested in infrastructure tasks similar to Greece’s Piraeus port, rating among the many world’s largest ports. Concurrently, India is actively pursuing an elevated presence within the space, with stories indicating that corporations like Adani are exploring funding alternatives in Greek ports.
Unpredictable Turkey
The connection between India and Greece with Turkey, a regional heavyweight, is marked by complexity. Turkey’s proximity to Pakistan and its opposition to India’s Kashmir coverage have acted as obstacles to nearer ties between India and Ankara. Equally, Greece has a traditionally difficult relationship with Turkey, characterised by conflicts over maritime boundaries and vitality sources. The 2 nations have confronted tensions as they contend for management in these strategic areas. These intricate dynamics contribute to the nuanced geopolitical panorama involving India, Greece, and Turkey.
Rising Commerce, Solidifying Presence
Greece stands as one of many vital maritime forces bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This sea serves as a significant conduit for world commerce, linking Europe and America with key economies similar to India, China, and Japan. Roughly 12-15% of the world’s maritime visitors traverses the Mediterranean Sea, underscoring its strategic significance. Notably, Russia, the USA, and France uphold sturdy army presences on this area, contributing to its geopolitical dynamics.
With India’s rising economic system, European markets have gained heightened significance. In response, India is actively progressing with the India-Center East-Europe Financial Hall, establishing a connectivity community linking New Delhi to those areas through a mixture of ship and rail routes. On this bold challenge, Greece assumes a pivotal position as a vital hyperlink.
A shared goal is to double bilateral commerce between India and Greece by the 12 months 2030. Moreover, stories point out that India is looking for Greece’s collaboration within the modernization efforts inside its transport sector, additional strengthening the ties between the 2 nations.
