PRIME Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s first foreign visit after Operation Sindoor to Cyprus looks an interesting choice before he lands in Canada for the G7 Summit. It is a strategic pick by the Prime Minister, aligning perfectly well with the diplomatic outreach India undertook by sending multi-party delegations to various countries to apprise Indian position vis-a-vis Pakistan. Mr. Modi’s visit to Cyprus, first by an Indian Prime Minister in over 20 years, is a strategic signal to Turkey which openly supported Pakistan during the recent hostilities. Cyprus is a neighbour of Turkey and is involved in a long-standing territorial dispute after the Turkish invasion of 1974.

 

Choosing Cyprus, which has supported India on its stand in Kashmir, is a wise decision to send across messages not only to Pakistan but the G7 countries also about India’s strategic moves for the future. India and Cyprus have traditionally enjoyed very good relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1962. Cyprus remains one of India’s dependable friends and has been consistent in its support to India’s candidature as a permanent member of the expanded United Nations Security Council. It has also extended its full support for the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, within the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which helps India address its increasing energy needs and benefit its economic development. Besides, the Mediterranean nation has also backed India’s position on Kashmir and cross-border terrorism.

 

Mr. Modi’s visit should be seen as part of the thanks-giving exercise New Delhi has initiated for all countries which backed India during the Operation Sindoor against Pakistan’s terror infrastructure. Besides the geopolitical realities associated with the diplomatic relations with Cyprus and the need to further strengthen it in areas like trade and investment, the nation holds a key geographical position in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The infrastructure project is supposed to boost trade and connectivity between India and Europe via the Middle East. And Cyprus, in the Mediterranean region, has an important role to play. How the relation with India is valued by Cyprus could be seen from the reception Prime Minister Mr. Modi received in the country. In a special gesture Cyprus President Mr. Nikos Christodoulides himself welcomed Mr. Modi on his arrival at the Larnaca International Airport. The warmth between the two leaders came wrapped in several signals for Turkey and also the European Union of which Cyprus forms the south-western frontier.

 

The choice of Cyprus can be seen as a leaf out of the ‘Necklace of Diamonds’ strategy India has started to counter China’s ‘String of Pearls’ strategy which aims at expanding Chinese footprint in the Indian Ocean. China is creating a ring around India through strategically placed ports such as Chittagong in Bangladesh, Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and far-away in Djibouti in the African continent. As a counter-action, India is expanding its naval bases in Singapore, Indonesia, Oman, Seychelles, and Iran. Additionally, dialogue with the Taliban government in Afghanistan has also started on a bigger platform to counter China’s all-weather friend Pakistan. By engaging Cyprus ahead of an important international summit, India has made a statement for Pakistan’s ally Turkey that New Delhi is keeping a watch from its immediate neighbourhood. Turkey has clearly crossed a line for India by supporting Pakistan’s strategy of cross-border terrorism. It has been on Pakistan’s side in terms of international resolutions and statements on Kashmir. Mr. Modi’s Cyprus visit has now put Turkey on notice.