Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to Cyprus, where he will be meeting President Nikos Christodoulides, is not a routine diplomatic tour – it marks India’s evolving strategic response to Turkey’s hostility.

This is only the third visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus, with Indira Gandhi’s 1983 visit and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002, and comes at a time when India is displeased with Turkey’s diplomatic and seemingly overt military support for Pakistan since the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.

Turkey has not only been increasingly vocal in international forums against India, particularly on Kashmir, but has also deepened its military and diplomatic ties with Pakistan. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly tried to position himself as a leader of the Islamic world, often challenging India’s positions at the United Nations.

In return, India has begun quietly encircling Turkey – tightening ties with the country’s regional rivals, including Greece, Armenia, Egypt, and now Cyprus, which is a long-standing regional adversary in the eastern Mediterranean.

Modi’s Cyprus trip is historic for several reasons. Not only is it a rare high-level Indian visit, but it also comes at a time when Cyprus is gaining importance as an entry-point for India’s plans in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) – the proposed trade route connecting India with Europe via the Middle East.

Cyprus is a member of the European Union, a partner in the Mediterranean, and a strong backer of India in global forums. This visit is expected to provide momentum to bilateral trade, cultural diplomacy, and possibly even defence........

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