PM's Cyprus Visit Takes India to the Mediterranean, Makes Turkey Uncomfortable

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing foreign trip assumes special significance when seen in the context of the countries he is visiting—Canada, Cyprus, and Croatia.

- JOYEETA BASU

The Canada visit is as an observer to the G7 summit and will be India's sixth consecutive visit to the summit from 2019 onwards. It shows the importance accorded to India as an emerging big power, although it is not yet known if the visit will result in the restoration of India-Canada ties that were strained courtesy Justin Trudeau.

As for the other two stops, the PM's just concluded visit to the Republic of Cyprus (ROC) is of particular importance.

It was for the first time in over two decades that an Indian Prime Minister visited that island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, strategically located near the shores of Turkey in the north, Greece in the west, Syria and Lebanon in the east, and not too far from Israel. Independently, India-Cyprus relations are important in terms of bilateral trade, with deeper economic engagement being the focus of the two countries, even though the total volume of trade is relatively small at around $140 million. There is scope for enhancing ties, particularly in defence, where India plans to sell Cyprus loitering munitions, that is, suicide drones, among other defence equipment.