Cyprus May Host Modi For Refuelling Stop En Route To G7 Summit In Canada; Bilateral Talks Possible

News18

a day ago

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While multiple possibilities are being explored, Cyprus has emerged as a likely candidate for a stopover before Canada
As preparations are underway for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Canada for the G7 Summit on June 16–17, officials are in the final stages of confirming international refueling stopovers, which may also double up as venues for bilateral engagements. Among the options being actively considered is Cyprus, sources told CNN-News18.
While multiple possibilities are being explored, Cyprus has emerged as a likely candidate for a stopover before Canada, given the recent uptick in diplomatic exchanges between the two nations. However, officials on both sides remain tight-lipped about the ongoing developments.
Strategic Timing And Diplomatic Optics
A Cyprus halt, if finalised, would not merely serve logistical needs — it may carry significant diplomatic symbolism, especially against the backdrop of PM Modi's earlier meeting with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on the sidelines of the UNGA last year.
During that interaction, PM Modi reaffirmed India's support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Cyprus.
Foreign policy watchers see this as a potential opportunity to reinforce ties, particularly as Cyprus has consistently supported India, including in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which it raised during an EU meeting. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also held a conversation with his Cypriot counterpart following the incident.
The last high-level exchange between the two countries occurred in 2017, when the then President of Cyprus visited India. Cyprus has previously sought India's assistance in resolving its four-decade-long territorial dispute, making any high-level engagement diplomatically notable.
PM Modi's visit to Canada, his first in nearly a decade, comes at a crucial juncture. Diplomatic ties between India and Canada have been frosty in recent months, particularly under the previous Canadian administration, with public spats, withdrawn envoys, and unresolved tensions over Khalistani extremism.
The invitation from newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has therefore surprised many, including Khalistani groups who have resumed protests, and the Congress party, which had questioned the likelihood of Modi's attendance.
With Modi returning to Canadian soil after last visiting in 2015, the trip signals a possible reset in Indo-Canadian relations under a new political regime in Ottawa—one that seems eager to re-engage with India.