Modi, Greece PM agree on strategic partnership, doubling trade by 2030

“Therefore, today the prime minister and I have decided to take the India-Greece partnership to a ‘strategic’ level,” he added.

“We have decided that we will strengthen our strategic partnership by expanding our cooperation in the fields of defence and security, infrastructure, agriculture, education, new and emerging technology, and skill development,” Modi said.

Mitsotakis said, “today, the most populous, largest democracy on the planet is coming to the first democracy on Earth.” He said Greece is very pleased to upgrade its ties with India to strategic partnership, adding that both sides are ready to “walk side by side to deal with various challenges, especially in a period of international turmoil and war in Ukraine — events that make it even more imperative to observe the UN Charter”.

The two decided to expand cooperation in areas of defence and security, infrastructure, agriculture, education and new and emerging technologies.

The two sides also agreed to have an institutional dialogue framework at the level of National Security Advisers besides vowing to strengthen defence industrial cooperation.

Modi said both India and Greece support diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the Ukraine crisis, adding both sides have “excellent coordination” on geopolitical, international and regional issues including that of the Indo-Pacific.

Mitsotakis said both sides are fully united in the goal of maintaining maritime security and the need for adherence to the Convention on the Law of the Sea as it is crucial in view of concerns over the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific.

The Greek prime minister said having direct air connectivity between India and Greece was also discussed as he highlighted the “great opportunities” in tourism.

Modi said the two sides also discussed mutual cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism and cyber security. An agreement on agricultural cooperation was also inked following the talks.

The discussions covered digital payments, shipping, pharma, tourism, culture, education and people to people ties.

The two leaders also deliberated on regional and multilateral issues, including the European Union, Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean, and called for respect of international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Describing ties between India and Greece as a “natural reunion”, Modi said a migration and mobility partnership agreement will be signed “soon” to facilitate skilled migration between the two countries.

In the area of defence and security, he said both sides agreed to give a boost to defence industries, along with military-to-military ties.