The diplomatic relations between India and Greece have been established in May 1950 whereas India opened its resident Embassy in Athens 28 years later in March 1978. Five years later, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Greece in 1983. But, 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.Â
PM Modi On Greece Ties
Greece PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis is at the moment on a state go to to India. India and Greece have fashioned a working group to extend mutual coordination on frequent challenges like defence, cyber safety, counter-terrorism, and maritime safety. The joint working group on defence may 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. In the phrases of Prime Minister Modi, “New opportunities for co-production and co-development are being created in defence manufacturing in India, which can be beneficial for both countries. We have agreed to link the defence industries of both countries. India and Greece have common concerns and priorities in the fight against terrorism. We discussed in detail how to further strengthen our cooperation in this area.”
Had a productive assembly with PM @kmitsotakis earlier at the moment. Our talks lined key areas like know-how, prescribed drugs, talent improvement, house 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 Great Power, Says PM MitsotakisÂ
On the opposite hand, PM Mitsotakis termed India as an amazing energy on the world stage. He mentioned that India is a crucial 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 Global North and the South….Greece presents vast opportunities as a logistics centre and international gateway, facilitating connectivity and trade between India, the Middle East, and Europe,” mentioned PM Mitsotakis. He added that India and Greece should work collectively to advertise peace and stability by means of initiatives just like the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, which may result in prosperity for all collaborating international locations.
Why Does Greece Matter To India?
India is at the moment 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 an important issue. With China rising its affect within the Indian Ocean in addition to within the Mediterranean Sea, India can’t sit again and watch the developments like a wallflower.Â
Counter To China
China has prolonged its affect within the area, notably by fostering connections with Greece. Through its Belt & Road Initiative, China has invested in infrastructure initiatives comparable 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 reviews indicating that firms like Adani are exploring funding alternatives in Greek ports.
Unpredictable Turkey
The relationship 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. Similarly, Greece has a traditionally difficult relationship with Turkey, characterised by conflicts over maritime boundaries and power sources. The two 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.
Growing Trade, Solidifying Presence
Greece stands as one of many vital maritime forces bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This sea serves as a significant conduit for international commerce, linking Europe and America with key economies comparable to India, China, and Japan. Approximately 12-15% of the world’s maritime visitors traverses the Mediterranean Sea, underscoring its strategic significance. Notably, Russia, the United States, and France uphold strong 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-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, establishing a connectivity community linking New Delhi to those areas through a mix of ship and rail routes. In this formidable challenge, Greece assumes a pivotal function as an important hyperlink.
A shared goal is to double bilateral commerce between India and Greece by the yr 2030. Additionally, reviews point out that India is in search of Greece’s collaboration within the modernization efforts inside its transport sector, additional strengthening the ties between the 2 nations.
