The Prime Minister will be the first Indian leader to visit Croatia since the breakup of Yugoslavia; Cyprus visit holds strategic and diplomatic importance
New Delhi, June 12 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the G-7 Summit in Canada from June 15 to 17, following a special invitation from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Ahead of the summit, PM Modi will make a stop in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. On his return journey, he is scheduled to visit Croatia, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so since the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991.
His visit to Croatia was initially planned for last month but had to be postponed due to India-Pakistan tensions. Both Cyprus and Croatia are members of the European Union, and India aims to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations with the region.
Cyprus is set to assume the presidency of the European Union Council in the first half of 2026, making the visit strategically significant. The country also holds considerable importance from a trade perspective.
Cyprus has faced internal divisions for decades between the Greek Cypriot majority in the south and the Turkish Cypriot community in the north. In 1974, Turkey invaded the northern part of Cyprus, establishing the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is recognized only by Turkey. The southern part remains internationally recognized and is part of the EU.
India’s interest in Cyprus has grown amid Turkey’s open support to Pakistan on several matters, including the controversial “Operation Sindoor”. Strengthening ties with Cyprus could help India balance regional dynamics in the Mediterranean and within the EU.
PM Modi’s visits to Cyprus and Croatia are being viewed as part of a broader effort to deepen India’s engagement with European nations and to counterbalance Turkey’s growing influence.
