India and Cyprus to boost defence industry ties, launch maritime training and cybersecurity talks, and enhance counterterrorism information sharing, marking a new phase in bilateral cooperation.

Cyprus, Nicosia — On June 16, 2025, the prime minister of India said that the two nations will strengthen their defence connections by working together in their respective defence industries.

Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not provide specifics, he announced that negotiations to strengthen bilateral cybersecurity and maritime cooperation will start.

Following discussions with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, he declared that the two nations would also establish a system of information sharing aimed at countering the threat of terrorism.

Before his departure to Canada for the G7 conference, Modi is making his first two-day visit to Cyprus as the prime leader of India in over twenty years. In a joint statement, the two nations also promised to increase maritime cooperation by looking at improving collaborative marine training and search and rescue operations, as well as by having the Indian Navy visit Cypriot ports more frequently.

In order to bring about peace and prosperity in the Middle East, Modi emphasised the importance of the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Given its geographic location as the closest European Union nation to both India and the Middle East, Cyprus is expected to serve as the pivotal link in the commerce, energy, and digital connectivity corridor connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe.

According to Christodoulides, Cyprus serves as a platform for Indian companies and is India’s “gateway into Europe.” He promised to support the implementation of programs like IMEC, which will link India with the Gulf, the Mediterranean, and the European continent through targeted infrastructure projects.

When Cyprus takes up the rotating presidency of the 27-member union in the first half of 2026, the Cypriot president stated that improved free trade agreements and India-EU relations would be among his nation’s top priorities. The visit was heralded by the Indian prime minister as a sign of a new era in India-Cyprus relations, one based on strong historical links and shared ideals that “have been tested time and again.”

The Non-Aligned Movement, a group of countries that chose not to support the Communist bloc or the West during the Cold War, including former British colonies like India and Cyprus.