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Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides’ forthcoming visit to India later this month is expected to mark a new phase in bilateral strategic engagement, with defence cooperation emerging as one of the central pillars of the relationship. A big delegation of Cypriot defence companies will accompany the President during his engagements in Mumbai and New Delhi. This indicates the growing deepening of security and industrial collaboration between the two countries.
President Christodoulides is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on May 20 before travelling to New Delhi on May 22. During the visit, he is expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The Cypriot leader will also interact with Indian business leaders and industry stakeholders in Mumbai.
The visit comes at a time when India and Cyprus are rapidly broadening ties in defence, maritime security, cybersecurity and strategic technology partnerships. According to diplomatic sources the growing defence relationship is a key component of the wider India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cyprus in June last year.
Cyprus High Commissioner to India, Evagoras Vryonides, said implementation of the Joint Action Plan is already progressing across multiple sectors, including tourism, education, financial services, shipping and technology exchanges.
A major highlight of the upcoming visit will be the participation of Cypriot defence firms in meetings with Indian counterparts. According to diplomatic sources familiar with the discussions, several Cypriot companies are currently engaged in advanced talks with Indian private-sector defence manufacturers in areas such as drones, unmanned systems and cybersecurity solutions. The discussions are focused on possible joint production arrangements, technology partnerships and sourcing collaborations.
The defence relationship between the two countries has gathered pace over the past year through a series of high-level initiatives and military engagements.
One of the most important developments was the signing of the Bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme (BDCP) 2026, which elevated the defence relationship to a more structured strategic framework. The agreement aims to enhance military cooperation, maritime coordination, technology collaboration, and information sharing on regional security challenges.
Another key area of engagement is maritime cooperation. In September 2025, the Indian Naval Ship Trikand, a stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, visited Limassol from September 21 to 24. The port call, the first such visit by an Indian naval vessel to Cyprus in nearly two decades, was seen as a symbolic and operational step toward strengthening maritime coordination in the Mediterranean region.
The two countries are also exploring expanded naval engagement through regular ship visits, maritime domain awareness initiatives, joint training exercises and search-and-rescue cooperation.
In another significant milestone, Indian defence companies participated for the first time in “Battleground Redefined 2026,” Cyprus’ premier defence exhibition. The participation underlined India’s growing interest in the Eastern Mediterranean defence ecosystem and opened new channels for industrial collaboration between companies from both countries.
Counter-terrorism cooperation is also expected to deepen under the evolving strategic partnership. Both nations have expressed interest in enhancing real-time intelligence sharing related to terrorism, illicit arms trafficking and transnational criminal networks.
Beyond defence, financial cooperation is likely to feature prominently during the visit. Cyprus expects stronger banking and financial sector engagement with India, including the planned representative presence of Eurobank in Mumbai. Other financial institutions, including Alpha Bank and Bank of Cyprus, are also exploring opportunities in the Indian market.
Agreements linked to financial technology and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem may also be discussed during the visit.
Prime Minister Modi, during his visit to Cyprus last year, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in more than 20 years, had stressed the importance of stronger defence industry cooperation and expanded maritime and cybersecurity engagement between the two nations.
With President Christodoulides now travelling to India alongside a high-profile business and defence delegation, both sides appear keen to translate strategic intent into long-term institutional and industrial partnerships.
Huma Siddiqui
