Turkey...had supported Pakistan during the recent India–Pakistan conflict. In contrast, Cyprus supported India.

PM Modi Emplanes for Cyprus; One-Third of Island Under Turkish Occupation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emplaned for a three-nation visit to Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia, scheduled from June 15 to June 19.

In the first leg of the visit, PM Modi will pay an official visit to the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus on June 15–16, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Nikos Christodoulides.

This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades.

While in Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus, the Prime Minister will hold talks with President Christodoulides and will also address business leaders in Limassol, a major city in Cyprus.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the visit will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India’s engagement with the Mediterranean region and the European Union.

This visit to Cyprus is being viewed in Nicosia as a diplomatic signal to Turkey, which has occupied one-third of the island since 1974 and backed Pakistan during the recent tensions between India and Pakistan, according to a report by ANI.

As per ANI, PM Modi's visit to Cyprus, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, is accompanied by a large delegation of around 100 officials.

In the past 40 years, there have only been two visits to the island nation by Indian leaders. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Cyprus in 1982, followed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002.

Turkey, which has occupied one-third of the island since 1974, had supported Pakistan during the recent India–Pakistan conflict. In contrast, Cyprus supported India. After the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Cyprus condemned the act and stated that it would raise the issue of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan at the European Union level.

According to ANI, citing diplomatic sources, the PM’s visit to Cyprus is intended to send a strong message to Turkey over its support to Pakistan.

PM Modi’s visit is being seen as significant from both political and commercial perspectives.

Following his visit to Cyprus, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Canada at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Canada, H.E. Mr. Mark Carney, on June 16–17, to participate in the G7 Summit.

In the final leg of his tour, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the Republic of Croatia on June 18, 2025, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Croatia. This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia.