Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the European Union member Cyprus in the first phase of his extremely important journey to Cyprus, Canada and Croatia, which is also an old friend of India. President Nicos Christodulids welcomed him strongly by reaching the airport. Later, he also decorated PM Modi with the highest honor there, which reflects the intensity between India and Cyprus. The main objective of this visit of PM Modi’s three countries is to strengthen India’s global relations, promote global cooperation against terrorism and intensify diplomatic efforts regarding the priorities of Global South (Global South). If seen, Cyprus also has very special importance for India in the above three countries. However, till now we have paid less attention to this. That is why, after about 22 years, an Indian Prime Minister has made an official visit to Cyprus. Earlier in 1983, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and in 2002, Atal Bihari Vajpayee made an official visit to the Republic of Cyprus. However, PM Modi’s Cyprus tour will prove to be a sleepless sleep in the coming times, there should be no doubt that the Turkish will prove to be sleepy in the coming times.
In fact, the purpose of this visit of PM Modi is not only to increase friendship between India and Cyprus, but also to give strict message to the neighbor Turkish of Cyprus, who has been speaking openly against India and providing military and diplomatic support and support to Pakistan, that India knows well to answer its antics. At the same time, India’s standing with Cyprus is a clear message for Turkay that India will continue to support the countries which are troubled by the aggression of the Turkay. This means that India has put hands on the Turkay’s painful veins. At the same time, this visit of PM Modi has also raised hopes that it will prove to be effective in promoting mutual trade, culture and defense cooperation, besides further intensifying the friendship between the two countries. This hope is not baseless, because the geographical location of Cyprus makes it very important for India. Explain that it is located in the west of the Turkay in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Levant (Syria-Labanan-Filistine-Israel) and near the Suez Canal. That is, Cyprus is a very important stage between Europe, Asia and Africa, which can prove to be a very important link for the Indo-East-Europe Corridor (IMEC).
Also read: Diplomatic reply to Türkiye through Cyprus Yatra
IMEC is a business corridor or route that can connect India to Europe through Middle East. If Cyprus is included in this corridor, then it can be successful not only to pursue business activities, but also to close Turkaye’s unexpected arrogance. In fact, for this purpose, India has made efforts in recent years to strengthen its relations with all the opposing countries of Turkay, including Greece, Armenia, Egypt and Cyprus. In this sequence, PM Modi has already visited those countries with the aim of strengthening friendship and business and strategic relations with Greece, Armenia, and Egypt. Now, his Cyprus journey seems to be a part of India’s strategic campaign to surround Turkaye from all sides. By the way, Cyprus’s friendship has always been very important for India. Explain that Cyprus has always supported India during the crisis, whether it is a time after India’s nuclear testing in 1998, when we were isolated in the world or at the time of Indo-US nuclear agreement in 2008 or the United Nations Security Council is a matter of gathering global support for permanent membership of India. In addition, Cyprus has always supported India instead of Pakistan or Turkay on issues like terrorism and Kashmir.
At the same time, India has always been supporting the unity and integrity of Cyprus, but India has been demanding that the issue of Cyprus be resolved under the United Nations rules and international laws. Let us know that the struggle of Cyprus and Turkay has been going on since 1974, when Greece was coup in Cyprus, so that Cyprus could be mixed with Greece. This was the time when Turkay attacked the northern part of Cyprus and took it into possession, after which Cyprus has been divided into two parts. The southern part of Cyprus is called ‘Greek Cypirits’ or ‘Republic of Cyprus’, which is recognized by countries around the world. At the same time, its northern part is known as ‘Turkish Cypiens’. It has been declared as ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ by Turkay, but is not internationally recognized. Turkay has deployed its army in northern Cyprus and from time to time keeps trying to encroach on the maritime boundaries there. It is worth noting that Cyprus has a stock of 12-15 trillion cubic feet natural gas in the earth, which the Turkish wants to capture. Not only this, Cyprus has to face difficulties in exporting his own gas due to Turkish intervention.
Even Turkish has tried to find gas by sending its ships to the sea sector of Cyprus, causing reports of its tension with Cyprus, Greece and European Union. Actually, Turkay believes that a small island like Cyprus should not get such a large marine area (EEZ). All these efforts of Turkay are against international laws related to EEZ. Obviously, if India enhances cooperation in the field of culture, energy, trade or infrastructure with Cyprus, it can prove to be a big shock for Turkish. At the same time, Turkish’s intelligent siege and increasing cooperation with Cyprus and intimacy symbolizes India’s growing global power and ability.
– Chetnaditya Alok,
Senior journalist, litterateur, spiritual thinker and architectural knowledge, Ranchi, Jharkhand