PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI TO VISIT GREECE LATER THIS MONTH
PM TO VISIT GREECE ON THE WAY BACK FROM SA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Greece later this month. The visit makes him the first Indian prime minister to visit the country in 40 years. The visit, which will take place on his way back from the BRICS summit in South Africa, is expected to strengthen India’s ties with the Mediterranean region.
India and Greece are currently discussing the possibility of upgrading their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. In 2021, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar visited Greece, and the two countries have been working to boost cooperation in areas such as shipping and maritime, information technology, agriculture, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals.
DEFENCE TIES BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS
India and Greece have been strengthening their defense ties in recent years. The Indian Air Force participated in the INIOCHOS-23 multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force earlier this year. The Indian Navy also engaged with the Hellenic Naval Ship Nikiforos Fokas during its visit to Souda Bay, Crete. It conducted joint exercises with the Greek Navy in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.
In a gesture of reciprocity, Greece’s air force has been invited to join Indian air force exercises in September. This is a notable milestone in the steady promotion of defense cooperation between the two nations.
The Indian government is also taking a proactive approach to forging defense ties with Greece. It plans to expand military exercises and joint training with the Greek Armed Forces. Rear Admiral Sanjay Datt, the commander of the College of Defence Management of the Indian Armed Forces too recently visits Greece. He did so for co-training exercises with Greek pilots. This underscores India’s keenness to familiarize itself with the Greek F-16 fighter jets, a key component of the Pakistani air force.
