Aug 26 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Athens for a one-day visit on August 25, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Greece in 40 years.
Greece’s Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis, greeted him at the airport.
PM Modi arrived in Greece following the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa, where he met with a number of world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
PM Modi met with Greece’s President, Katerina N Sakellaropoulou, as part of his tour. In addition, he met with his Greek colleague, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to discuss measures to strengthen bilateral ties.
This visit, which comes after a 40-year hiatus, is notable not only because of its length of time, but also because of the current geopolitical climate.
In the midst of the Russia-Ukraine war and shifting geopolitical realities, India is actively broadening its regional partnerships.
India is pursuing new alliances with nations that share its interests, such as Greece and Armenia, rather of relying primarily on traditional allies such as Russia and Iran.
In recent years, relations between India and Greece have grown considerably. The two countries signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2020, which will result in stronger cooperation in defence, trade, and energy.
India is also strengthening its military ties with Greece.
The Indian Air Force recently took part in the Iniochos 2023 joint multinational air exercise, which was held at the Hellenic Air Force’s Andravida airbase just three months ago (from April 24 to May 4), causing worry in Turkey.
In addition, India is boosting its ties with Armenia. India is supplying weapons to Armenia in order to strengthen its defensive position against Azerbaijan.
Anti-tank missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, artillery guns, weapons finding radars, and other armaments and ammunition are all part of this assistance.
The trilateral alliance of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Turkey sees India’s efforts to deepen ties with both Greece and Armenia as a direct challenge.
Furthermore, these measures reflect India’s growing strategic interests in the Mediterranean region, which is critical to its energy security due to its abundant oil and gas resources.
Furthermore, India is working to strengthen its commercial and investment ties with this region.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis remarked in a recent interview with the WION on August 24 that Greece, with its Piraeus port in the Aegean Sea, has the potential to serve as India’s gateway to Europe.
Furthermore, India’s strengthening ties with Armenia and Greece act as a deterrent to China’s growing influence in the Mediterranean region.
China has been actively bolstering its economic and military footprint in the region, causing India to vigorously counteract China’s influence.
Greece has also shown its support for India in relation to the Kashmir problem and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Furthermore, Greece is eager in luring Indian investments and might potentially help with the European Union’s Free Trade Agreement.