Nicosia, June 18: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reaffirmed India’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus during a stopover visit en route to the G7 summit in Canada, in a move seen as a diplomatic rebuke to Turkiye following Ankara’s recent support for Pakistan.
Modi visited the United Nations-controlled Green Line that separates the Republic of Cyprus from the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, accompanied by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. The leaders reviewed bilateral ties and reiterated their commitment to a UN-led process aimed at resolving the decades-long division of the island.
“India supports the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus,” Modi said after the visit, according to a joint statement.
The trip comes days after Turkiye publicly backed Pakistan’s position on Kashmir, a move that has strained its relations with New Delhi.
In their bilateral meeting, Modi and Christodoulides discussed boosting cooperation in sectors including trade, defence, shipping, fintech, and connectivity. The leaders highlighted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a key initiative to promote regional cooperation, with Cyprus seen as a potential logistics hub connecting Europe and Asia.
Cyprus has emerged as one of India’s top ten sources of foreign direct investment, with cumulative inflows of about $15 billion. The two countries signed a memorandum to establish an Indian Studies chair at the University of Nicosia and agreed to finalise a mobility pilot programme by the end of 2025.
The two leaders also committed to preparing a five-year action plan to further develop bilateral ties. Modi expressed appreciation for Cyprus’s longstanding support for India’s position on cross-border terrorism. Cyprus is set to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union in 2026, which both sides said could offer a strategic opportunity to deepen India-EU cooperation.
