Indian and Greek media are buzzing with the news of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ planned visit to New Delhi on February 21-22.
Alexis Papachelas in Kathimerini said it is “an important step in building a strategic relationship between India and Greece — a process which began with the historic visit of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to Greece in August 2023.
Mitsotakis will be the first head of state or government-level visit from Greece to India in 15 years.
“Indian-Greek relations have been elevated to strategic partnership during the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Greece in August last year,” said Papachelas.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Mitsotakis will be the chief guest and keynote speaker at the Raisina Dialogue in India’s national capital.
A high-level delegation
Mitsotakis will be accompanied by a high-level Greek business delegation comprising business leaders who look at India’s potential as their gateway to Asia and a manufacturing base for their global operations.
“Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ visit is expected to strengthen further and deepen the strategic partnership between India and Greece,” the MEA statement said.
“India-Greece relations have been elevated to ‘Strategic Partnership’ during PM Modi’s visit to Greece in August 2023. They are based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of security and defence, shipping, maritime and marked by convergence on regional and global issues,” said the MEA statement.
“PM Mitsotakis will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and PM Mitsotakis will hold bilateral discussions, and Prime Minister Modi will also host a lunch banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary.”
The two countries have also been cooperating closely in various multilateral forums.
Modi’s visit to Athens last year created excitement in Greece at the highest political levels and among Greek business leaders who sensed opportunities that a strategic partnership with India provided.
Mitsotakis told the media, “PM Modi’s historic visit to Athens created a momentum which I hope will be accelerated with my upcoming visit to [India].”
Mitsotakis said he is determined to deepen bilateral ties and cooperation in many fields, adding, “India will find no better gateway to Europe than my country, and for Greece, there is no better gateway to Asia than a close strategic relationship with India.”
India is perceived as an old friend of Greece and a rising great power in the fast-changing global scene.
Regional stability and cooperation
Greece and India are in areas strategically important to the global system but are areas that are geopolitically volatile at the same time. As recent events in the Red Sea have shown, the security, stability, and prosperity of the East Mediterranean region, where Greece is situated, is vitally dependent on the security, stability, and prosperity of the Indian Ocean region.
Political leadership in India and Greece is aware of the compelling strategic reasons and urgency to build a strategic relationship between the two countries.
Bilateral relations have been moving along over the years, but at a slow pace. The Indian Navy and Indian Air Force have participated in joint exercises with the Greek armed forces, and reciprocal exercises have been planned occasionally.
Businesses have also been looking at each other.
An Indian construction company, for example, is involved with a significant Greek Construction company in building a new airport on the island of Crete.
A well-known Indian business family has made significant investments in several companies in the food business in Greece. A mid-sized Indian shipping company has already opened a brokerage firm in Athens and looks to become a key player in the trans-Atlantic shipping market.
A sizeable systemic bank in Greece has partnered with a significant Indian financial institution to sell mutual fund products globally.
Mitsotakis will also visit Mumbai before returning to Athens.
