Cyprus and India Reinforce Strategic Partnership During Foreign Minister Kombos’ Landmark Visit
Cyprus and India have taken decisive steps to deepen their strategic and economic partnership, as Cyprus Foreign Minister Dr. Constantinos Kombos completed a landmark visit to New Delhi from 29–31 October 2025 — the first such high-level visit by a Cypriot Foreign Minister in fourteen years. The visit, marked by symbolism and substance, reaffirmed the renewed vigour in ties between the two democracies following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic trip to Cyprus earlier this year.
High-level talks under the new India–Cyprus Joint Action Plan
During his meeting with the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar on 30 October, both leaders discussed several aspects of bilateral engagement within the ambit of the newly adopted India–Cyprus Joint Action Plan 2025–2029, a forward-looking framework aimed at expanding cooperation in trade, investment, innovation, maritime security, and defence. Referring to the India–Cyprus relationship, External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar said, “Trust and time-tested are not easy adjectives to use nowadays, but certainly I think I can do that with a great deal of confidence and assurance for this relationship”.
“India is a natural partner and ally,” Dr. Kombos remarked during his address. “India is a global powerhouse. … With these facts in mind … we are meeting here, today, in the midst of a situation … we perceive India as a natural partner.” At the heart of the discussions was the growing alignment between the two nations on areas of mutual interest in bilateral, regional, and international matters — from economic connectivity to maritime security and multilateral cooperation.
Recent exchanges signal deepening ties
The visit of Dr. Kombos came against the backdrop of a series of high-level exchanges and substantive developments that have elevated the India–Cyprus partnership in recent months. Cyprus’s Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Dr. Nicodemos Damianou led a business delegation to India in September 2025 for the ICC Global Business Summit. Comprising the Chief Scientist, the CEO of Invest Cyprus, senior executives from Eurobank and representatives of other financial organizations in Cyprus, the delegation explored collaboration in digital governance, research partnerships, and fintech, leading to the signing of several MoUs, strengthening the already robust B2B partnerships between India and Cyprus.
Major progress in financial and banking cooperation
Momentous developments in the Financial and Banking sectors are adding impetus to the ongoing dialogue in the economic relations of both the countries. Eurobank S.A. has recently received approval from Indian Competent Authorities for the setting up of a Representative Office in India. When launched, this would be the first European bank from the region to establish operations in India.
Bank of Cyprus, in October 2025, announced the establishment of an “Indian Business Hub” in Nicosia to facilitate cross-border investment and financial services for Indian enterprises operating in the Mediterranean region. Business and Consulting Organizations in Cyprus and in India have been actively promoting the India–Cyprus investment corridor with renewed emphasis on two-way invest opportunities. India, as a centre of robust growth driven by a young consumption-led economy and Cyprus, as a reliable gateway for enterprises to expand into the European Union. This opportunity is being showcased widely across the island, depicting the value that this corridor can deliver to both the economies.
Growing cooperation in defence and maritime security
Positive developments in the banking and financial sectors are matched by the opening of new areas of collaboration between India and Cyprus. Earlier this year, India’s Secretary for Defence Production visited Nicosia, signalling the two nations’ growing interest in defence and maritime collaboration. This was followed by the port call of the Indian Naval Ship INS Trikand at Limassol, which included a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with the Cyprus Navy as part of a broader effort to strengthen defence ties and maritime cooperation between India and Cyprus.
Innovation, space and technology partnership expands
Momentum has also been strong in the innovation and technology sectors. In October 2025, the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) and India’s Pixxel Space Technologies signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in space technology and data applications. The agreement was signed during COSPAR 2025, hosted in Nicosia, which saw the largest-ever delegation from India’s Department of Space — including senior scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, the U. R. Rao Satellite Centre and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology — underscoring a new frontier in India–Cyprus technological engagement.
Business chambers prepare next steps
To ensure continuity in the momentum, the High Commission of India in Cyprus regularly engages with Chambers of Commerce in both countries to address matters of mutual interest and encourage bilateral business dialogue. Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE) and the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) have announced an incoming business delegation from India to hold a series of B2B meetings in Nicosia on 4 December 2025. The event is expected to consolidate the gains made this year and translate the vision of both countries’ leadership into tangible partnerships in key sectors.
Cultural diplomacy strengthens symbolic ties
In the cultural sphere, both nations have deepened symbolic connections. On 2 October 2025, the President of the House of Representatives Ms. Annita Demetriou joined the High Commission of India in commemorating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Jawaharlal Nehru Avenue in Nicosia. The event served as a powerful reminder of shared democratic ideals and philosophical kinship between the two nations. Ms. Demetriou is expected to visit India soon — the first visit by a President of the House of Representatives in three decades — further broadening the institutional dialogue between Nicosia and New Delhi.
While in India, Dr. Kombos visited the Gandhi Smriti Museum, paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and drawing parallels between India’s non-violent legacy and Cyprus’s own commitment to international law and peaceful coexistence. He underlined these themes in televised interviews with DD News and WION, where he expressed gratitude for India’s “consistent and principled support” to Cyprus over the years.
Looking ahead: cooperation during Cyprus’ EU Presidency
A particularly forward-looking element of the discussions was the emphasis on Cyprus’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026. Both sides acknowledged that this period would offer new opportunities to advance India–EU cooperation, particularly in areas like sustainable investment, mobility partnerships, and the long-awaited India–EU Free Trade Agreement.
Dr. Kombos’s visit thus signalled the maturing of a partnership rooted in democratic values, common geopolitical instincts, and a pragmatic focus on economic collaboration. As Cyprus prepares to take on the EU Council Presidency, and India continues its ascent as a global economic power, the visit set the tone for a closer, more strategic engagement between Nicosia and New Delhi — one built on trust, connectivity, and mutual opportunity.
Also read: Namaste Cyprus: A confluence of Indian culture and cuisine in Cyprus
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