{"id":50569,"date":"2025-06-17T10:01:28","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T04:31:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=50569"},"modified":"2025-06-17T11:17:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T05:47:14","slug":"pm-modis-cyprus-visit-strategic-boost-to-india-cyprus-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pm-modis-cyprus-visit-strategic-boost-to-india-cyprus-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"PM Modi\u2019s Cyprus Visit: Strategic Boost to India\u2013Cyprus Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>PM Modi Cyprus Visit Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Cyprus. During this visit, he held talks with President Nikos Christodoulides.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PM Modi\u2019s visit was the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades. It underscores the strategic depth and enduring friendship between the two democracies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Key Highlights of the Visit<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>PM Modi Conferred Cyprus&#8217;s Highest Honour<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyprus President awarded PM Modi the &#8220;<\/span><b>Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;, the country\u2019s highest civilian honour.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Focus on implementing the 2024 Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The leaders committed to enhancing coordination within international bodies like the UN and the Commonwealth, with a focus on implementing the <\/span><b>2024 Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This Declaration emphasizes sustainable ocean governance, climate resilience, marine biodiversity protection, and capacity-building among member states\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The inaugural Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting was held in Cyprus in April 2024.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This led to the creation of the Blue Charter Centre of Excellence to promote sustainable ocean practices and build capacity among Commonwealth nations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthening Political Dialogue<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two countries agreed to hold regular high-level political dialogue and activate institutional mechanisms through their foreign ministries to monitor and implement an upcoming bilateral Action Plan.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Support for Cyprus Sovereignty and UN-Led Peace<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India reiterated support for Cyprus\u2019 sovereignty and UN-backed efforts for a bizonal, bicommunal federation.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bizonal:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The territory is divided into two zones, reflecting the geographical separation of the two communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bicommunal:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The federation is structured to accommodate and represent the interests of both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both opposed unilateral actions that hinder negotiations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enhanced Defence and Security Cooperation<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyprus and India condemned terrorism, including recent attacks in Kashmir.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They pledged joint action on counter-terrorism, cyber security, defence production, maritime security, and crisis response coordination.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Connectivity and Regional Integration<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both sides endorsed the India\u2013Middle East\u2013Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a game-changer for connectivity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyprus offered to serve as a logistics hub and gateway for Indian trade into Europe.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>EU\u2013India Strategic Engagement<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyprus pledged to support India-EU ties during its 2026 EU Council Presidency.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyprus will assume Presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both nations welcomed progress in key areas like trade, defence, energy, and space, and committed to concluding the EU\u2013India Free Trade Agreement by year-end.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both sides also supported continued collaboration through the EU\u2013India Trade and Technology Council and extending the 2025 Strategic Roadmap.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trade, Innovation, and Economic Partnerships<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India and Cyprus agreed to expand trade and investment.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Cyprus\u2013India Business Forum and potential MoU on innovation and technology (AI, digital infrastructure, research) are planned.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mobility, Tourism, and Cultural Ties<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Mobility Pilot Program will be finalized by end-2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both leaders called for boosting tourism, cultural ties, and exploring direct air connectivity between the two nations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Action Plan 2025\u20132029<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A detailed five-year Action Plan will guide bilateral cooperation, monitored jointly by the respective foreign ministries, to ensure sustained progress in strategic areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 35px; font-style: inherit;\">India\u2019s Supports to Cyprus\u2019s Sovereignty: A Strong Message To Turkey<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this visit, India reiterated its support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity of the Republic of Cyprus.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This strong diplomatic message comes at a time when India\u2013Turkey relations are tense, particularly due to Turkey\u2019s vocal criticism of India on Kashmir and its support for Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PM Modi\u2019s symbolic visit to the <\/span><b>Historic Centre of Nicosia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, overlooking Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus, further highlighted India\u2019s solidarity with Cyprus.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Turkey\u2013Cyprus Conflict<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Turkey\u2013Cyprus conflict stems from the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">island\u2019s division between Greek and Turkish Cypriots<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After gaining independence from Britain in 1960, tensions rose due to Greek Cypriot demands for union with Greece and Turkish Cypriot fears.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1974 Greek-backed coup triggered a Turkish invasion<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, resulting in the north being controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The island remains divided, with the UN maintaining a buffer zone.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repeated UN-led negotiations have failed to resolve issues like territorial return and political equality.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent disputes over natural gas exploration have further deepened tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/pm-modi-holds-delegation-level-talks-with-cyprus-president-nikos-christodoulides\/article69700553.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TH<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0| <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/explainers\/india-supports-cyprus-sovereignty-why-thats-a-subtle-yet-strong-message-to-turkey-ws-l-9388259.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">News18<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0| <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mea.gov.in\/outoging-visit-detail.htm?39681\/Joint+declaration+on+the+implementation+of+the+comprehensive+partnership+between+the+Republic+of+Cyprus+and+the+Republic+of+India+June+16+2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MEA<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PM Modi\u2019s visit to Cyprus boosts defence, trade, and ocean cooperation, while signaling India\u2019s support for Cyprus over Turkey. Read more about PM Modi\u2019s Cyprus Visit: Strategic Boost to India\u2013Cyprus Ties<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":50588,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,880,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-50569","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-pm-modi-cyprus-visit","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50569"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50569\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}