From June 14 to June 18, 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a three-stage tour, visiting Cyprus, Canada and Croatia.
Stop in Cyprus
Modi made his first stop in Nicosia. The visit to this country over the years was not accidental and was largely due to the desire of New Delhi to thank the leaders of Cyprus for openly supporting India’s struggle against terrorist actions in connection with the recent border conflict with Pakistan. Such a position of Cyprus and Greece against the background of Ankara’s solidarity with Islamabad on the terrorist attack in the Indian part of Kashmir could not but cause a positive reaction from New Delhi, expressed in the arrival of N. Modi in Nicosia. The program of his stay provided for negotiations with the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodulidis, participation in a round table with representatives of the business circles of the two countries and a meeting with the Indian diaspora living on the island.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis presents award to Indian Prime Minister
It is noteworthy that during the visit, the Indian prime minister was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III in Cyprus, the country’s highest civilian award.
The talks touched upon the expansion of trade, economic and investment ties (trade between the two countries is insignificant – about $150 million against the background of significant Cypriot investments in India – more than $12 billion). In this regard, they noted the importance of concluding a free trade agreement between India and the EU in the near future.
A visit to Cyprus fits into the course of the Indian leadership to strengthen cooperation with the states of the Mediterranean region, primarily with members of the European Union. Taking into account New Delhi and the fact that Nicosia will preside over the EU in the first half of 2026, and India, as you know, pays increased attention to expanding cooperation with the European Union.
Following the visit, a joint declaration was adopted on the development of strategic dialogue and cooperation between the two states. It is noteworthy that in this document, Cypriots, referring to Pakistan, supported India in the fight against cross-border terrorism. They also advocated giving India a permanent seat on an expanded UN security council.
The parties appreciated the establishment of the Indian Cypriot Greek Business and Investment Council. A bilateral memorandum of cooperation on payments in the banking sector was also signed. Concrete agreements have been reached on the development of bilateral cooperation in various fields, including tourism, new technologies, investments and defense. The talks and their outcomes have been described as historic and offer broad prospects for comprehensive engagement.
Modi’s participation in the G7 summit and a call to D. Trump
Having achieved his goals in Cyprus, the Prime Minister of India went to the G7 summit in Canada, where N. Modi was invited among other influential partners of the G7. By the way, it is significant that N. Modi, starting in 2019, has been participating in such a format for the sixth time in a row and in his speech focused on key issues related to the priorities of the Global South on topics discussed, including international security and trade, energy, technology and innovation, artificial intelligence, etc. The Indian prime minister paid special attention to the problem of combating international terrorism through the prism of the recent conflict with Pakistan, did not hide New Delhi’s dissatisfaction with Islamabad’s policy on this issue.
In connection with the early departure of D. Trump from the G7 event, N. Modi was unable to meet with the American president, but during an urgently organized telephone conversation with him, the Indian leader touched upon the April border conflict with Pakistan, accused Islamabad of encouraging international terrorism and its constant interference in Kashmiri affairs. In connection with the well-known statements of D. Trump that it was he who allegedly achieved in May of this year. ceasefire between India and Pakistan N. Modi neatly emphasized the unacceptability for New Delhi of any third-party mediation in its relations with Islamabad and India’s determination to solve all problems with its neighbors exclusively on a bilateral basis.
During the conversation, India also touched upon the preparation of the next meeting in the format of a quadripartite dialogue (USA, India, Japan and Australia) on security issues in the Indo-Pacific region. Donald Trump confirmed his readiness to participate in the Quartet summit at the end of this year in New Delhi.
Talks with Canada’s new leadership
Among the bilateral meetings held on the “sidelines” of the summit, contacts with the new leadership of Canada were of particular importance, taking into account the recent tensions in relations between the two countries, primarily related to the actions of former Prime Minister J. Trudeau. In the fall of 2023, he publicly accused the Indian special services of involvement in the murder on Canadian soil of one of the extremist leaders of the large Sikh community living here (more than 800 thousand). India, of course, rejected this accusation, but the position of the Canadian prime minister provoked a serious complication of relations, the recall of ambassadors and the mutual expulsion of diplomats. However, the new head of the Canadian government, pragmatist M. Carney, despite the protests of influential leaders of the local Sikh community, nevertheless invited N. Modi to the summit, primarily taking into account the status of India as a global power and the intention to normalize dialogue with New Delhi.
During the meeting, the prime ministers of the two countries agreed to restore full-fledged diplomatic relations and develop cooperation in various fields, primarily in the trade and economic sphere. The trade turnover of $12 billion was recognized by the parties as clearly inappropriate to the potentials of the two states and the parties agreed, along with the resumption of political dialogue, to intensify trade and economic ties. In general, N. Modi managed to convince the Canadian prime minister of the need for a complete normalization of bilateral relations.
On the “sidelines” of the summit, the Indian leader also had separate conversations with other leaders of the “seven.”
Visit to Croatia will give an additional impetus to cooperation between the two countries
The final stage of N. Modi’s trip abroad was a visit on June 18 of this year. small EU and NATO state of Croatia. This was the first visit of the head of the Indian government to this country in the entire history of bilateral relations. During the meetings with RH President Zoran Milanovich and Prime Minister Andrei Plenkovich N. Modi confirmed his readiness to give an additional impetus to cooperation between the two countries, primarily to expand trade and economic ties (trade turnover is only about $300 million, and the volume of investments does not exceed $60 million). The parties agreed to increase defense cooperation on the basis of a previously signed agreement. Memoranda were signed on expanding cooperation in the field of agriculture, science and culture. India is still clearly inferior in its presence in Croatia to China, which is more active here, not to mention the United States and the Eurogrands, which dominate the country. Nevertheless, it seems that the Indian leadership is aimed at strengthening relations with this island state and promoting its own interests in it.
In general, the current foreign tour of Narendra Modi testifies to the vigorous foreign policy activity of New Delhi, strengthening the weight and influence of this major global power in the international arena. The course towards further rapprochement with the United States, the European Union, members of the G7 has been confirmed, which, however, does not prevent India from developing ties with small states such as Cyprus, Croatia, etc. Therein lies the foresight as well as the wisdom of Indian politicians.
Anvar Azimov, diplomat and political scientist, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Senior Researcher at the Eurasian Educational Institute of MGIMO of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
