Modi expresses support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Republic of Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday (May 22, 2026). | Photo credit: ANI

In a sign of India’s growing involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday (May 22, 2026) that India’s relations with Cyprus are based on “respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

Welcoming Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Mr Modi laid out an ambitious canvas for the bilateral relationship, pitching Cyprus as an “investment gateway” to the European Union. Cyprus currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

India and Cyprus have announced the elevation of their bilateral ties to the level of “strategic partnership” and have also drawn up a roadmap for defense cooperation. Cypriot officials said Nicosia was interested in buying items from the Indian defense industry.

Support Cyprus against Turkey

“India-Cyprus relations are strong and futuristic. Our relationship is based on democracy and the rule of law. We respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. India is fully committed to these principles and will remain so in the future,” the prime minister said in a statement after the two sides held delegation-level talks and signed several agreements in Hyderabad.

Mr Modi’s reference to “sovereignty and territorial integrity” is widely interpreted as support for Cyprus continuing to negotiate with Northern Cyprus, which Turkey recognizes as a separate state. Off the record, Cypriot officials mentioned their concerns about Turkey, which they say provided assistance to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Cyprus also supported India’s stance on reforming global institutions such as the UN Security Council and reiterated its condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack.

A bridge to the EU

In his remarks, the visiting president presented Cyprus-India relations as an entry point for India’s broader relationship with the European Union, with which India signed a free trade agreement earlier this year.

“Cyprus is uniquely positioned to serve as a credible, stable and reliable bridge between India and Europe, a bridge between the European Union, the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East,” Christodoulides said, adding that “regional connectivity initiatives including the Indian Economic Corridor for Central and Eastern Europe (IMEEC)” figured in the talks on Friday (May 22, 2026).

IMEEC ambitions

Following the talks, senior Cypriot officials said Cyprus was eager to provide transshipment facilities for global commodity and cargo movements affected or delayed due to the US-Israeli war against Iran. To help remedy the current disruption to supply chains, Cyprus has launched an IMEEC drive and created the “Friends of IMEEC” grouping within the EU. Project officials also cited support from Greece and Italy. “We have had extensive discussions on the IMEEC. We agree that we need to start with the building blocks to implement the IMEEC,” the Cypriot official said. Direct flights will soon be launched between India and Cyprus, Cypriot officials said.

They also shared an ambitious plan to use the Indo-Cyprus relationship to revive the IMEEC project, which is also restructuring the security architecture of the Eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey is an active player due to its stakes in northern Cyprus. In 1974, Turkey invaded the northern part of Cyprus in response to a military coup in Cyprus that was supported by Greece.

Defense Partnership

Mr. Modi pointed out that Cyprus is one of the top ten investors in India and over the past decade investment from Cyprus to India has almost doubled. He said both sides focused on defense and security partnership as an important pillar of the bilateral relationship.

According to a joint statement issued at the end of the visit, Mr. Modi and Mr. Christodoulides welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Cyprus Defense and Space Industry Cluster (CyDSIC) and the Society of Defense Manufacturers of India. The two sides will intensify cooperation in the field of cyber security, the maritime field and emerging technologies.

Cypriot officials said Nicosia was willing to buy platforms made by the Indian defense industry, adding that it would explore the possibility of buying defense from India using its €1.2 billion defense budget.

Global challenges

India saw its relationship with Cyprus “stand the test of time”, Mr Modi said. “Today we also discussed global issues. Whether in Ukraine or in West Asia, we want these conflicts to be stopped through peace-building efforts. We also agreed that in view of global challenges, the reform of global institutions is an urgent and important matter,” the prime minister added.

Cypriot officials said an EU-India free trade agreement would be operational by the end of the year, prompting greater exports from India to the EU. At that point, Cyprus could serve as a landing point for Indian products bound for the EU, they said. Indian companies can build infrastructure and storage facilities in Cyprus to deal with uncertain times and possible disruption to supply chains due to conflict in West Asia. Cypriot officials pointed out that while Cyprus calls for IMEEC initiatives, it also continues to call for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Published – 22 May 2026 15:10 IST