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Why Cyprus matters to India
Indian PM Modi travels to Cyprus this weekend, a visit that will further firm up age old ties. It is after over 2 decades that an Indian PM visits the Mediterranean country, the last being PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002.
Decoding 🇮🇳🇨🇾 ties
History
India's 1st PM Jawaharlal Nehru & 1st Cyprus Prez Archbishop Makarios III played a key role in forging ties as leaders of newly independent states but ancient civilizations. Both were key figures of the Non-Aligned Movement. Makarios was only European leader at Bandung.
Cyprus Prez Makarios visited India in 1962 (the year the country got independence from UK) & offered his country's support to India in the aftermath of Chinese aggression:
Docs from MEA's library, annual report 1962:
In 1964, when Cyprus was engulfed in internal crisis as conflict grew between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority, India sent humanitarian support to the victims; It also deplored the "action by Turkish aircraft" against Cyprus towns.
From MEA library:
High level visits
Visit to Cyprus
-PM Indira Gandhi in 1981 (stopover), 1983 (state visit)
-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee 2002
-Prez Pratibha Patil 2009
-Prez Ram Nath Kovind 2018
-EAM Jaishankar 2022
Visit to India
Prez Tassos Papadopoulos 2006
Prez Anastasiades 2017
Cyprus: India's dependable friend
-Backed India's bid for UNSC's permanent membership
-Backed India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, within the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) & International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Pic: EAM Jaishankar, Cyprus FM Constantinos Kombos in NY in 2024
Cyprus was quick to condemn the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, & extended support to India after Pahalgam terror attack (2025). Infact Cyprus raised the Pahalgam attack at a EU meet. Both FMs also spoke soon. Intrvw with Cyprus HC Evagoras Vryonides
UN Peacekeepers
India had contributed 3 Force Commanders serving in UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) since 1964
-Lieutenant General PS Gyani
-Major Gen Diwan Prem Chand
-General KS Thimayya
UN SG Kurt Waldheim, Major General D. Prem Chand in Nicosia in 1974 (ctsy UN)
General KS Thimayya & Cyprus
The former Indian Army Chief, Gen Thimayya was the chief of UNFICYP from July 1964 until his demise in Dec, 1965 due to heard attack in Nicosia while on active duty. A road is named after him in Larnaca. A commemorative stamp was issued in 1966.
At present, one officer from Indian Army is serving in UNFICYP. Over the years, India contributed to 10,000 Indian personnel to the UN peacekeeping forces in the country, before gradually being reduced.
Lieutenant General Prem Singh Gyani Commander of UNFICYP in 1964 (ctsy UN)
Areas of cooperation:
-Defence Cooperation: Both have defence pact signed during EAM Jaishankar's visit
-Economic ties:
Trade at US$ 136.96 Million for April 2023-March 2024
India-Cyprus DTAA was signed on 18 November 2016 in Nicosia.
Indians in Cyprus
There are around 11,119 Indians living in Cyprus (Indian govt data). The Indian diaspora mainly consists of professionals working primarily in shipping, IT, Fintech, farmhands, domestic workers and students.
pc: Indian community cultural events in Cyprus
The Honors
Both countries have honored each other's leaders. Delhi has Archbishop Makarios Road, named after 1st Cyprus Prez. Nicosia has Indira Gandhi Avenue, Larnaca has road named after India's frmr Army chief & UNFICYP chief Gen Thimayya
The Turkish problem of Cyprus & Indian stance
🇨🇾🇹🇷 ties remained strained primarily bcz 🇹🇷invaded the country in 1974. After the invasion, the island was divided, & 🇹🇷backed the establishment of 🇹🇷Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in 1983. It is recognised only by Turkiye.
UNSC resolutions
1974, 1983, 1984 UNSC resolutions call on Turkiye to withdraw its presence & troops from Cyprus, slam the establishment of so called TRNC as "legally invalid".
PS: Pakistan was the only country to vote against the 1983/1984 UNSC Cyprus Resolution
India has always called on Turkiye to implement Cyprus UNSC resolution. Esp so, when Turkish leaders have raked Kashmir UNSC resolutions at the behest of close partner 🇵🇰. 🇵🇰 wch is itself vocal on K UNSC Resolutions goes mute on Cyprus UNSC resolution
India's stance on Cyprus issue
Endorsed the solution of Cyprus issue based on UNSC resolutions, international law and the EU acquis. India supports a bi-zonal bicommunal federation based on UN Resolutions as a solution to the Cyprus problem
Cyprus has thanked India for supporting the reunification the Island.
The then FM of Cyprus in 2022 thanked the role of Major Gen Diwan Prem Chand during 1974 Turkish invasion, General KS Thimayya who lead the UN Peacekeeping team
The Great Indian Mediterranean push
The engagement with Cyprus is part of India's big push towards the Mediterranean. PM Modi visited Greece in 2023, Italy last year, this year he was in France & inaugurated the Indian consulate in Marseille. He will be visiting Croatia soon.
IMEC
Cyprus, a key country in the Mediterranean is expected to be key component of the India Middle East Europe corridor that was announced at the Delhi 2023 G20 summit.
Cyprus & Israel have established an electricity linkup via an undersea cable, seen key to IMEC
The 3+1 format 🇨🇾🇮🇱🇬🇷+🇮🇳
Plans is to invite India to Israel, Cyprus & Greece trilateral format, something that was announced in 2023
For me, the story of Cyprus will not be completed without the special mention of Cyprus Ambassador to Finland & former spokesperson to Cyprus Foreign Ministry @Demetris_Samuel:
Nikos Christodoulides: Cyprus’ youngest president
In 2021, in New York I spoke to the then Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides @christodulides who termed ties with India "strong strategic, and indispensable"
Nikos Christodoulides @christodulides is currently the President of Cyprus. PM Modi will be meeting him in next few days. His full interview from 2021 from New York. Called India, Cyprus ties "excellent".
(PS: with reference to the 3rd post, in the thread, Cyprus got its independence from the UK in 1960 & not in 1962)
Evacuation:
Cyprus played a key role in evacuation of Indians from Lebanon (2006/Op Sukoon) & Libya (2011/Op Safe Homecoming). Cyprus was key evacuation point, provided logistical support.
