Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Cyprus on Sunday for a two-day official visit, marking the first time in over two decades that an Indian prime minister has visited the Mediterranean nation. His visit aims to bolster bilateral cooperation, with a focus on trade, investment, and strategic partnership.
In a rare diplomatic gesture, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides personally welcomed Prime Minister Modi upon his arrival at Larnaca International Airport, underlining the significance of the visit. The Prime Minister is visiting Cyprus as the first stop of his three-nation tour. “Landed in Cyprus. My gratitude to the President of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. This visit will add significant momentum to India-Cyprus relations, especially in areas like trade, investment and more,” Prime Minister Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also highlighted the warm welcome, stating on X: “A trusted partnership underpinned by shared values & aspirations. PM @narendramodi has landed in Cyprus. As a special gesture, reflecting deep-rooted historic ties, President @Christodulides and FM @ckombos received PM on arrival at the airport. Extensive discussions to further deepen bilateral ties lie ahead.”
Calling it a “historic visit,” President Christodoulides described Modi’s arrival as the beginning of “a new chapter in a strategic partnership that knows no limits.” “Welcome to Cyprus Prime Minister @narendramodi! Here, at the EU’s southeastern frontier and gateway of the Mediterranean. A historic visit. A new chapter in a strategic partnership that knows no limits. We make a promise to advance, transform, prosper more. Together,” he posted on X.
Upon arriving at his hotel, Prime Minister Modi was greeted by enthusiastic members of the Indian diaspora who chanted patriotic slogans such as "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai." Sharing photos of the warm reception, Modi expressed his gratitude: “I thank the Indian community for the affection. India will keep working to deepen ties with Cyprus in the times to come.”
Separately, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is accompanying the Prime Minister, met with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos at Larnaca International Airport. Jaishankar posted on X: “Delighted to meet FM @ckombos of Cyprus on my arrival at Larnaca. Confident that PM @narendramodi’s visit to Cyprus will deepen our longstanding bilateral ties and the India-EU partnership.”
Before his departure from New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi had described Cyprus as a "close friend" and "an important partner" in both the Mediterranean region and the European Union. “The visit provides an opportunity to build upon the historical bonds and expand our ties in the areas of trade, investment, security, technology and promote people-to-people exchanges,” Modi had stated.
During his stay in Nicosia, the capital city, Prime Minister Modi will hold detailed talks with President Christodoulides and engage with the business community at an event in Limassol. After concluding his visit to Cyprus, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Kananaskis, Canada, to participate in the G7 Summit at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. From there, he will proceed to Croatia, where he is scheduled to meet with President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
Highlighting the strategic importance of his multi-nation tour, Prime Minister Modi said it will also serve as a platform to express gratitude to partner nations for their continued support in India's fight against cross-border terrorism. He emphasized that the tour will help advance global consensus on combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
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