Indian PM Modi's visit to Cyprus - upgrade of Indo-European relations?

Euronews

8 hours ago

Narendra Modi is expected to sign multi-level cooperation agreements between India and the Republic of Cyprus during his visit to the island on the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the country in over two decades.
The official talks between President Nicos Christodoulides and the Indian Prime Minister will take place on Monday, when Narendra Modi will be officially received at the Presidential Palace. However, already after his reception at Larnaca airport on Sunday, Modi and Christodoulides will attend a meeting of businessmen from Cyprus and India in Limassol before sitting down to an informal working dinner.
Modi's visit follows an invitation extended to him by Christodoulides and comes eight years after then President Nicos Anastasiades visited India. President Tassos Papadopoulos had also visited India in 2006, while the last time an Indian Prime Minister visited Cyprus was in 2002 with Atal Bihari Vazbayi.
Modi is coming to Cyprus before heading to Canada for the G7 summit. This is the Indian prime minister's first trip abroad since the Pakistan crisis and it is seen as particularly meaningful in view of Turkey's activities in the region, given Ankara's support for Islamabad.
Cyprus is already preparing to take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (first half of 2026) and New Delhi and Nicosia are seeking to strengthen and possibly upgrade their already close relations, as India sees Cyprus as a "bridge" to the EU - perhaps even "rewarding" its supportive stance on the Kashmir issue.
Conversely, India's developing relations with both Greece and Cyprus are not seen in a good light by Turkey, with reports in the Turkish press portraying the moves as negative for Ankara.
The discussions between the two delegations, apart from the Indo-European and Indo-Cypriot relationship, will also touch on the Indian strategic project of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
The Indian Prime Minister will be accompanied by a large delegation and he will be given a tour by President Christodoulides of the ceasefire line in Nicosia before a formal lunch at the Presidential Palace and his departure for Canada.
In a dangerous development in the mutual escalation between Iran and Israel, an Iranian missile hit the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv, at dawn on Sunday.
The Weizmann Institute is one of the most important scientific centres in Israel and the world. Its roots date back to 1934, when it was founded by Chaim Weizmann under the name "Daniel Seif Research", before it was renamed in 1949 after its founder, who later became the first president of Israel.
Today, the institute is home to some 2,500 researchers and staff and offers advanced master's and doctoral programmes in fields including mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, biology and computer science. It has more than 30 scientific laboratories, a huge library, as well as residential and lecture facilities.
But the institute is not just an academic facility; it is seen as part of Israel's national security infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in supporting the military through advanced research and technology.
The Weizmann Institute is one of the pillars of technological innovation in Israel, directly contributing to the development of complex military systems, including:
- Artificial intelligence for data analysis and combat guidance.
- Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies and autonomous systems.
- Advanced electronic tracking and jamming tools.
- Alternative GPS navigation systems.
- Protection of military codes.
- Encrypted communication in hostile environments.
- Research in directed energy and nuclear applications.
- Development of field treatments for injured soldiers.
These activities partly explain why the institute is considered a strategic target for Tehran, especially after recent Israeli strikes on military facilities and prominent Iranian scientists.
It is notable that the Israeli media did not show pictures or share accurate details about the extent of the damage, in accordance with strict instructions from the military censors that prevent the disclosure of injuries or damage to sensitive facilities.
This reticence reflects the extent of the security embarrassment resulting from the breach of air defences, and highlights the vulnerability of Israeli infrastructure to precise attacks.
The institute is generously funded by the Israeli government, in addition to significant support from international organisations, which enhances its ability to attract minds and develop projects that serve scientific and military progress.
The institute also serves as a platform for international scientific collaborations, which could create diplomatic tension if investigations prove that sensitive internationally supported scientific facilities were directly attacked.