Indian and Greek media have been buzzing over the landmark visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to India, marking the first official visit by a Greek PM in 16 years.
In New Delhi, Kathimerini reported, that Mitsotakis delivered a resonant address during the commencement of the annual multilateral conference, the “Raisina Dialogue,” underscoring Greece’s pivotal role as India’s natural “gateway into Europe and beyond.”
The significance of Mitsotakis’ diplomatic journey is magnified is a sequel to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Athens last year—the first visit by an Indian head of state to Greece in four decades. The visits underscore the deepening ties and mutual interests between the two nations.
Central to the agenda of discussions between Prime Minister Modi and his Greek counterpart were matters ranging from bolstering cooperation in defence manufacturing and trade, to digital connectivity initiatives. Moreover, the discussions also encompassed the formulation of a migration and mobility pact, and shared commitment towards addressing contemporary global challenges.
Hindustan Times reported that Mitsotakis cited shared values connecting the two nations from the time of the ancient Indo-Hellenic civilisation spanning millennia.
The “shared values” of Greece and India, Mitsotakis said, “serve as a bridge that brings us closer”, and both sides share an “ethos or dharma” and a strong commitment to international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Mitsotakis said. In Modi, he said, he had “found a visionary, a principled leader and…a true friend”.
Greece and India as “the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy,” Mitsotakis said, made Greece a mediator between India and Europe.
The Indian Express reported that the Greek Prime Minister underlined the importance of the role of India on the international stage as he and quoted the Greek PM saying, “It is the leading democracy in the Global South and Prime Minister, the world is looking to you like never before when it comes to shaping the direction of the global debate, and addressing the great challenges that we face.”
On his X (formerly Twitter) account the Indian prime minister Modi posted photos of the event.
Mitsotakis posted his speech on various platforms like YouTube in which he said that the day was is “a moment of both reflection and celebration on the strength of the partnership between our two great nations, between Greece and India.”
“A partnership that is woven by economic, cultural, philosophical ties that go back millennia. A partnership between two allies, two countries that share similar values. A partnership that today binds us closer than ever before. But, above all, a partnership between the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy.”
The Greek PM praised India’s economic development and global influence, advocating for strengthened EU-India relations, aligning with Greece’s priorities.
He addressed Greece’s achievements, including robust economic growth and debt reduction, but emphasised ongoing challenges and the need for continued progress.
Mitsotakis discussed investments, climate change, artificial intelligence, the crisis in Gaza and the significance of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Ukraine is much more than just a war in Europe. It is a challenge in global stability,” he stressed.
Mitsotakis’ trip is a follow-up to Modi’s visit to Athens last August, the first by an Indian premier in four decades. At the time, the two sides upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership, and Wednesday’s discussions provided the two leaders an opportunity to assess the progress made since then.
Pointing to opportunities created by India’s efforts to develop and produce military hardware jointly, Modi said the two sides agreed to link their defence industries.
“We discussed concluding the migration and mobility partnership agreement between the two countries as soon as possible,” he said, speaking in Hindi after the talks.
Mitsotakis said the mobility pact will be a crucial step towards strengthening cooperation on legal migration, fighting human trafficking, and offering young Indians an opportunity to work in Greece.
He described India as one of the “main pillars of stability and security” in the Indo-Pacific. He pushed for the two sides to double their trade – currently worth about $2 billion – before the target year 2030. The oldest and largest democracies share the mutual political will to establish partnerships and create new synergies, he said.
Modi said the two sides identified new opportunities in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, medical devices, technology, innovation, and space to give new energy to their cooperation. They also discussed ways to boost cooperation in shipping and connectivity.
The growing cooperation in defence and security reflects the deep mutual trust between the two sides, and creating a working group in this area will help increase coordination on common challenges such as cyber security, counterterrorism and maritime security, Modi said. Given the common concerns in the fight against terror, the two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in this area.
Without directly referring to the Ukraine war or the Israel-Hamas conflict, Modi said the two sides agreed that all “disputes and tensions should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy”. Mitsotakis emphasised India’s role in tackling global challenges such as the Ukraine war, the situation in West Asia, climate change and food and energy security.
“For all these challenges, one thing is certain. For governments to tackle them, international partnerships and collective action are paramount. India has a critical role to play in this endeavour, and we view India as one of the main pillars of stability and security in the broader region of the Indo-Pacific,” he said
Modi welcomed Greece’s “positive role” in the Indo-Pacific and its decision to join the India-led Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). There was also agreement on cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, and Greece can become an essential partner in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) launched during India’s G20 presidency last year, Modi said.
Mitsotakis acknowledged the prospects for strengthening connectivity through IMEC but said peace and stability in the Middle East are “necessary conditions” for the initiative’s success. “Greece, you just have to look at the map to realise it is India’s gateway to Europe, and through IMEC, we see our participation as a very important aspect of this strategic partnership,” he added.
Mitsotakis, accompanied by a delegation of about 60 business leaders, said Greece focuses on promoting economic ties, especially in renewable energy, infrastructure, ports and shipping, and logistics. He said an Indian company was now working with a leading Greek construction firm to build a new airport in Crete.
He pledged Greece’s support for India’s bid to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2028-29, Mitsotakis backed Modi’s call for reforming the UN to make it more representative of the “shifting patterns of development and global power.”
Modi referred to the trade and cultural links between India and Greece dating back almost 2,500 years and said new initiatives such as the proposed migration and mobility agreement will give a modern form to these relations. The two sides also agreed to frame an action plan to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Greece in 2025.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra later told a media briefing that the two sides hadn’t discussed any specific ports about Greece’s participation in IMEC. As the specifics of this project get fleshed out, the Indian side can look at ports, enabling provisions through government-to-government agreements and private-sector partnerships, he said.
He ruled out the possibility of the diversion of the route of IMEC due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. “Insofar as the alignment of the IMEC corridor is concerned, that remains unchanged as of now,” he said. There has been robust progress on segments of IMEC, such as railways, shipping, and logistics standards, since the launch of the project last year, including recent agreements between firms in India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he added.
Mitsotakis was given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before his restricted and delegation-level talks with Modi. External affairs minister S Jaishankar also met the Greek premier on Wednesday morning.
