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Hans India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
This reflects India's rising stature on global stage: HM Shah on PM Modi getting Cyprus's highest civilian award
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being honoured with Cyprus's highest civilian award, calling it an acknowledgement of his leadership and India's growing diplomatic standing worldwide. 'Congratulations to PM Shri @narendramodi Ji on being conferred with Cyprus's highest civilian award, the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III,' said HM Shah in a post on X. Congratulations to PM Shri @narendramodi Ji on being conferred with Cyprus's highest civilian award, the 'Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III.'This reflects the continuously rising stature of India on the global stage. This is the 21st international award given to our PM,… — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 16, 2025 'This reflects the continuously rising stature of India on the global stage. This is the 21st international award given to our PM, making him one of the most decorated leaders in India's history,' he said. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Cyprus for conferring upon me 'The Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III.'This isn't my honour. It is an honour for 140 crore Indians. I dedicate this award to the everlasting friendship between India and… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 16, 2025 HM Shah said such honours not only acknowledge his leadership but also strengthen India's diplomatic standing worldwide. Earlier, BJP leader Amit Malviya praised PM Modi's growing international popularity and described his 23 Global Honours as a reflection of the country's global ascent. Malviya, in charge of the BJP's National Information and Technology Department, took to social media to celebrate PM Modi's latest honour and said, 'No Prime Minister of India has ever had such a profound global impact.' 'This is not just about one leader -- it reflects the rise of India's economic strength, strategic clarity, and diplomatic assertiveness on the world stage. And none of it would have been possible without the unwavering trust that 140 crore Indians have placed in Prime Minister Modi's leadership,' he wrote on X. Malviya also reflected upon the shift in the country's diplomacy that has forced the world to acknowledge its potential. 'For the first time, India's foreign policy is unapologetically India First — clear-headed, confident, and consistent. The world is not just watching; it is acknowledging and respecting this new India,' he wrote. Starting from 2016, Malviya listed the 23 global honours conferred on PM Modi over the past decade. From the Saudi Arabia's Order of King Abdulazis in 2016 to the UAE's Order of Zayed Award in 2019, the BJP leader also highlighted the 2020 US government's Legion of Merit awarded to PM Modi. The list of PM Modi's Global Honours also included Bhutan's Order of the Druk Gyalpo in 2021 and Egypt's Order of the Nile, France's Grand Cross of the Legion and Greece's Grand Cross of the Order of Honour, all awarded in 2023. Malviya's list of PM Modi's Honours received last year included Russia's Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Kuwait's The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer and awards given by Guyana, Barbados, Nigeria and Dominica.
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
Message for Turkey? Why Modi's first post-Op Sindoor trip is to Cyprus
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Cyprus on Sunday, June 15, marking his first foreign visit post-Operation Sindoor. The three-nation tour will also include Canada, where he will attend the G7 Summit, and Croatia. His choice of Cyprus as the first destination carries geopolitical weight, possibly signalling a message to Turkey's consistent support for visit comes at the invitation of Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides, with PM Modi accompanied by a delegation of around 100 PM received the highest honour of the country, The Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III. Notably, this is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades; the last two visits were by Indira Gandhi in 1982 and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002. Despite historical ties between the two nations, such high-level engagements have been his visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with President Christodoulides in the capital, Nicosia, and addressed business leaders in the port city of why the visit is significant, strategically, diplomatically, and economically, and how it could be seen as a message to AND STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCEThe visit comes against the backdrop of growing alignment between Turkey and Pakistan. Turkey has repeatedly supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and voiced support during recent periods of heightened military tension between India and contrast, Cyprus has been vocal against terrorism. After the April 22 terror attacks, Cyprus condemned the violence and stated its intent to raise the issue of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan at the EU level. It has consistently backed India's position on itself has long-standing tensions with Turkey, rooted in the events of a Greek-backed coup attempted to merge Cyprus with Greece, Turkey launched a military the legitimate government in Nicosia was eventually restored, Turkish forces never fully northeastern part of the island later declared independence as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a state recognised only by growing Turkey-Pakistan axis, added to Cyprus's longstanding tensions with Turkey, makes PM Modi's visit a strategic CYPRUS AND TURKEYAs mentioned in a release by the Ministry of External Affairs statement, "Cyprus has supported India on numerous international bodies and remains one of India's dependable friends."Cyprus backs India's bid for a permanent seat on the expanded UN Security Council and supports the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement within the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), key forums for India's global energy on the other hand, has not only voiced support for Pakistan in Kashmir but has also been indirectly involved in recent hostilities. During the post-Operation Sindoor conflict, drones used by Pakistan against India were reportedly of Turkish PM Modi stated, "This three-nation tour is also an opportunity to thank partner countries for their steadfast support to India in our fight against cross-border terrorism, and to galvanise global understanding on tackling terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."INDIA, CYPRUS AND ECONOMIC COOPERATIONCyprus's location makes it a crucial link in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a strategic infrastructure project aimed at enhancing trade connectivity between India and Europe through the Middle Christodoulides referred to this during his early May visit to Eurobank, one of Cyprus's largest banks, announced plans to open a representative office in move aims to position Cyprus as a gateway for Indian businesses entering the EU, while also strengthening ties between Europe, South Asia, the Middle East, and a favourable tax regime, robust financial services, and a well-developed shipping industry, Cyprus offers Indian companies a viable entry point into European his address at the business roundtable in Limassol, PM Modi underlined India's commitment to expanding its economic engagement with growing economic collaboration, PM Modi noted that the Cyprus Stock Exchange and India's National Stock Exchange have agreed to cooperate in GIFT City, ROLE IN THE EUCyprus will hold the rotating Presidency of the EU Council in Modi's visit lays the groundwork for deeper collaboration on trade and security, while also potentially leveraging Cyprus's upcoming EU leadership role to push for progress on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, targeted for completion by the end of AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATIONCyprus is a key player in Eastern Mediterranean natural gas exploration, an area marked by geopolitical friction, particularly due to Turkey's contested drilling India, closer ties with Cyprus could open new avenues in energy cooperation, while also reinforcing its presence in a strategically sensitive Watch
