India-Greece Joint Statement.
Responding to an invitation from Prime Minister H.E. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi conducted an official visit to the Hellenic Republic on August 25, 2023. The two leaders acknowledged the historical connections between India and Greece and recognized the need for a revitalized approach to enhance their bilateral relationship, particularly in light of current global changes. During their discussions, both leaders emphasized the existing cooperation between the two nations and exchanged thoughts on matters of mutual interest, spanning bilateral, regional, and international domains.
As leaders of two ancient maritime nations, they shared a vision for a Mediterranean Sea and Indo-Pacific characterized by freedom, openness, and adherence to maritime law, including UNCLOS provisions. They stressed the importance of respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and navigation rights to maintain international peace and security. Prime Ministers Modi and Mitsotakis highlighted the substantial democratic and free-market space shared by India and the European Union (EU), underscoring the mutual benefits of deepening EU-India relations. They commended the economic resilience displayed by Greece and India in the face of regional challenges, with both nations achieving domestic economic growth. Both leaders strongly endorsed the ongoing India-EU trade negotiations and the implementation of the India-EU Connectivity Partnership.
Based on the historical rapport between their countries and peoples, the two leaders decided to elevate Greek-Indian bilateral relations to the status of a “Strategic Partnership.” They pledged to expand collaboration across political, security, and economic dimensions, while also strengthening people-to-people connections. To this end, efforts will be made to double bilateral trade by 2030. The leaders expressed their commitment to further broaden engagement in areas such as defense, shipping, technology, cybersecurity, education, culture, tourism, and agriculture. An MOU on Agriculture Cooperation was acknowledged, with plans to establish a Hellenic-Indian Joint Sub-committee on Agriculture for sectoral collaboration. Regular dialogues in politics, economics, defense, security, and public diplomacy were emphasized. Encouraging direct flights between the two countries was also discussed.
Acknowledging their rich cultural heritage, the leaders endorsed promoting artistic exchanges and collaborative efforts in preserving ancient sites. They concurred on the importance of finalizing a Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement to facilitate workforce mobility between the two countries. Both leaders vehemently condemned terrorism in all its manifestations and agreed on the need to counter the use of proxies for cross-border terrorism. Greece’s entry into the International Solar Alliance was welcomed by Prime Minister Modi, who also looked forward to Greece’s membership in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude for Greece’s warm hospitality and extended an invitation for Prime Minister Mitsotakis to visit India.
