Introduction:
Upon conclusion of the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Greece on his first official visit to the country. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Greece in 40 years. During his day-long visit, the Prime Minister held wide-ranging talks with the top leadership of Greece. He also met business leaders from both sides and interacted with the Indian community in Athens.
- India’s traditionally long standing, warm and friendly relationship with Greece has been marked by consistent support to each other on issues of core national interest, such as, Kashmir and Cyprus.
- On J&K, Greece’s position reflects our concerns. It has not issued any statement on the recent developments in Kashmir.
- Greece supports our quest for permanent seat in an expanded UNSC. It supported India at the NSG in 2008 and in 2016, MTCR, WASSENAAR arrangements, Australia Group and India’s candidature for ICJ, ITLOS, IMO, Postal Operations Council (POC), World Heritage Committee and for the position of the External Auditor of the IAEA for the term 2022-27.
- Following India’s nuclear tests in May 1998, when most Western countries were contemplating sanctions against India, the Greek Defence Minister visited India in December 1998 and signed an MOU on Defence Cooperation
Historical Linkages as analyzed in the discussion:
- India’s contacts with Greece began over 2500 years ago. Trading between the Mauryan Kings and Greece is evidenced by coinage and writings.
- The Mauryan dynasty which was contemporary to Alexander became the largest Indian Empire to spread west to Punjab and Afghanistan under Chandragupta and later his grandson Ashoka.
- Chanakya, in Chandragupta’s Court records in Arthashastra about Yavan Ambassador in the Kings’ court, named Megasthenes. Gandhara art is believed to be a fusion of Indian and Greek influences.
Political relations:
- Diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in May 1950. Greece opened its Embassy in Delhi in 1950 and India in Athens in 1978.
- Greece participated in the six-Nation Delhi Declaration of 1985 on Nuclear Disarmament.
- On Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)/National Register of Citizenship (NRC), Abrogation of Article 370, Reorganization of new Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh and Judgement on Ram Janm Bhoomi-Babri Masjid, the official stand of Greece is that these are internal affairs of India.
- During the India-EU Porto Summit held on 08 May 2021, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed Greece’s full solidarity and support for India in the EU.
- During the visit of EAM in June 2021, the Framework agreement on the International Solar Alliance was signed, which was ratified by the Greek Parliament on 15th march 2022.
- The main Export items from India to Greece are Aluminum, organic chemicals; fish and crustaceans; iron and steel; plastic; textile articles; edible fruit and nuts; peel or citrus fruit; onions, sesame seeds, spices, coffee, tea, cashew nuts; electrical machinery and equipment and parts etc.
- The main import items from Greece are Aluminium foil; mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; sulphur; lime and cement; nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances etc.
- India Participated as ‘Honoured Country’ in the 84th Thessaloniki International Fair(TIF), the largest annual commercial exposition of Greece, and also the largest in Southeast Europe and the Balkans from September 7-15, 2019(India was also the ‘Honoured Country in 2009).
Defence Cooperation:
- Bilateral defence cooperation received an impetus after the visit of Raksha Mantri (RM) to Greece in 1994.
- After 1998, our military interactions have been visiting by our NDC teams (2002, 2003, 2008 and 2022), transits by IAF Mirage 2000 ferries in 2004 involving a landing in Greece and two port calls by 2 Indian Naval Ships in 2003 and visits of 4 Indian Naval ships in July 2006 and 2009.
- A Passex excercise was undertaken by the Navy ships of both the countries during the visit.
- During the visit of late President Abdul Kalam to Greece in April 2007, he visited the Hellenic Aerospace Industries.
- The issues related to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation were discussed. The Chief of Hellenic Navy participated in the International Fleet review at Vizag in February, 2016.
- A team of two pilots and one technical officer visited Tanagra Air Base in Athens in October 2016, as part of SME exchange of Mirage 2000 aircraft which was flown by both Air Forces. A similar visit to India from Hellenic Air Force was carried out in August 2017.
Science & Technology:
- With the aim of encouraging and supporting cooperation in the field of science and technology on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, the Agreement on Science & Technology was signed during the visit of Rashtrapatiji to Greece in April 2007. The Agreement has been ratified by both sides.
- A four member science & technology delegation from Department of Science & Technology, visited Athens for the First S&T Joint Committee Meeting from 4-5 November 2010.
- The two sides signed an Executive Programme (2010-2013) to start cooperation in a number of areas of mutual interest, including Information and Communication Technology, Nanotechnology, Life Science and Biomedical Science, Seismology and Geodynamics, Agricultural Science, Chemical and Physical Science, Ocean & Marine Science, Environment Science, and Renewable Energy.
Indian Community:
- According to 2011 Greek census, the number of Indian community is 11,333. Currently, they are estimated to be between 13000-14000.
- They have been living across various parts of Greece for many years and are predominantly from Punjab and largely Sikhs.
- Most Indians are farm, factory or construction workers. Many Indian workers, who did not have required papers after some period of stay, acquired stay permits during different periods of amnesty, offered by the Greek government.
Conclusion:
India–Greece military relation must be taken forward with the signing of extensive military cooperation memoranda to lay the basis for joint exercises, technology and intelligence sharing. Prime Minister Modi welcomed Greece into the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and looked forward to Greece’s membership of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) which is a positive step.
