India Greece Relations: State Visit of Prime Minister of Greece to India

Context: 

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotak is on a 2-day State visit to India.

• Chief Guest at Raisina Dialogue 2024: Mr Mitsotakis will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 9th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

Highlights of the Visit of Prime Minister of Greece to India

• Emphasized  on Doubling Bilateral Trade relations to nearly $4 billion by 2030.
• India-Middle East-Europe Corridor(IMEC) as a Peace Project: Greece’s role as an ideal gateway to Europe for India &  India as the prime gateway to Asia for Greece. 
• Agreement to establish Joint working Group on : 
  • Combating Terrorism, Co Production & Co-development  in Defence Manufacturing
• Agreement signed for the engagement in : Quantum Computing, Biotechnology, NanoTechnology,  Agriculture, Energy & Pharmaceutical Sectors, Direct Air Connectivity & in the Tourism Sectors & Pitching Up to Join Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative.
• Supported India’s candidacy for UNSC for 2028-29.
• The Mobility and Migration Pact Agreement (MMPA) to regulate legal migration is in the finalization stage.
• Regional security and stability: Recent events in the Red Sea highlight the interdependence between the East Mediterranean and Indian Ocean regions.
• Maritime Security &  international law : Both have agreed to abide by UNCLOS.
• Both countries backed each other’s national interest like J&K for India and Cyprus for Greece.

India Greece Relations: Background, Political, Trade, and Defence Ties

Ancient India Greece Relations

• Trade Ties: Between the Mauryan Kings and Greece is evidenced by coinage and writings. 
• Cultural Fusion: Gandhara Art and Greek Influence, in the fields of art, sculpture and architecture. Like Bamiyan Buddha and Greco-Buddhist art.

Modern Diplomacy Within India Greece Relations

• Shared perspectives on various international issues : 
  • UN reforms 
  • on the Six-National Delhi Declaration on Nuclear Disarmament in 1985. 

• • Endorsed India’s candidacy : 
  • For  Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), 
  • Supported India’s inclusion in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement, and Australia Group. 
• Greece signed the Framework Agreement on the International Solar Alliance.

Cultural Engagement: 

• Art of Living Hellas, and the Brahma Kumari Center, alongside numerous Yoga centers supported by the Hellenic Yoga Society.
• Indian Diaspora in Greece : 
  • 11,333 according to the 2011 census, reside,Predominantly from Punjab and largely Sikhs.

Defense Ties: Joint Exercises and Training: 

• Interoperability in the ‘Blue Flag’ exercise (held in Israel in 2021
• INIOCHOS-23: The Indian Air Force participated in the multinational air exercise,hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. 

Science & Technology Cooperation: 

• During Covid-19 : 
• Greece imported  hydroxychloroquine & Chloroquine sulfate & donated Oxygen Cylinders  and some medical protection devices to India, through the EU.

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