Strengthening Ties with Cyprus, EU a Key Priority: Jaishankar

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New Delhi: With ties between India and Turkey witnessing heightened tension following the Pahalgam terror attack, New Delhi has reaffirmed its warmth toward Turkey’s neighbour Cyprus — just days after India skipped the Turkish National Day celebration in the capital.

“India reiterates its unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, and for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said on Thursday while addressing visiting Foreign Minister Dr. Constantinos Kombos.

Dr. Kombos is on a three-day maiden visit to India and is scheduled to address the Indian Council of World Affairs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cyprus in June this year culminated in a Joint Declaration outlining a roadmap for enhanced strategic cooperation and deeper India-EU engagement. Both sides committed to concluding the EU-India Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2025, ahead of Cyprus assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2026.

The Joint Declaration on the Implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership serves as a guiding framework to expand bilateral cooperation across emerging domains.

“Strengthening ties with both Cyprus and the EU remains a key priority for India, and we greatly value your steadfast support in that regard. India and Cyprus are trusted friends and reliable partners,” Jaishankar said.
“‘Trust’ and ‘time-tested’ are not easy adjectives to use these days, but I can say so with full confidence about this relationship. Our partnership is anchored in mutual respect, shared democratic values, and a joint strategic vision — forward-looking and aligned with our nations’ aspirations.”

Both leaders reviewed recent developments in bilateral relations and discussed ways to expand collaboration in trade and investment.

“As mandated by our leadership, we have prepared the India–Cyprus Joint Action Plan 2025–2029, and I am pleased that within just a few months we have already taken steps toward its implementation,” Jaishankar added.

In 2025, the MoU between the Cyprus Stock Exchange and India’s NSE at GIFT City marked a major step in strengthening financial cooperation. As a strategic gateway to the European Union, Cyprus enables Indian companies to expand in sectors such as IT, tourism, and financial management. The launch of the India-Cyprus-Greece Business and Investment Council (2025) has further woven the partnership into the broader Middle East-Europe connectivity corridor.

The Cyprus issue remains a longstanding dispute between Ankara and Nicosia, rooted in Turkey’s 1974 military intervention following a Greece-backed coup. The island’s northern territory, administered by the self-declared “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, is recognised only by Turkey.

Following Modi’s visit, Cypriot firms Interorient Navigation Co. Ltd and Danship & Partners Ltd announced a ₹10,000-crore investment in India’s maritime sector — the largest FDI in shipping since 2005.
Of the roughly 3,000-strong Indian diaspora in Cyprus, many are engaged in maritime and cosmetics businesses.