Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is in India on a 2-day official visit where he met with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to strengthen Greek Indian relations.
Athens considers the visit significant, especially in view of Greece’s participation in the United Nations Security Council for the 2025-26 term.
Apart from his meeting with the head of Indian diplomacy on Thursday, Gerapetritis is also scheduled to meet with India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, on Friday.
Upgrading bilateral relations is high on the agenda of Gerapetritis’ visit to New Delhi, as Greece is aiming to increase trade, particularly in construction materials, food and beverages, and renewable energy sources, with a set target to double bilateral trade by 2030. Increasing the volume of Indian investments in Greece is also high on the agenda, as companies from the Asian subcontinent have expressed interest in Greek ports.
A key focus of Athens is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), as Greece aspires to become India’s gateway to Europe by serving as the final stop of the initiative. Greece believes its geostrategic location, combined with its role as a regional energy hub and its leading position in maritime trade is a boon for the trade corridor.
The ceasefire in the Middle East is considered favorable for the project’s planning phase, and Greece maintains strong relations with Middle Eastern nations, including Gulf countries through which the corridor will pass.
Reinforcing cooperation in the tourism sector is another key issue of interest in strengthening Greek Indian relations. The 2022 Bilateral Air Services Agreement has already laid the groundwork for direct flights between Indian and Greek cities, and both Indian and Greek airlines have reportedly expressed interest in operating such routes.
Additionally, Gerapetritis and his Indian counterpart will discuss deeper collaboration on migration matters. The Memorandum of Understanding on Migration and Mobility between Greece and India, currently under negotiation, is regarded as a significant step forward in this regard.
