New Delhi: Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetris called India an “inviolable partner”, and also highlighted how the proposed connectivity route (IMEC) between India and Europe could be a “channel of peace” for global trade and maritime security.
Speaking at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) on Friday, Gerapetris said, “India is an inviolable partner, and the cooperation between our two countries is an exemplary case of how states should operate”.
In the session titled, “Greece-India partnership in the current geopolitical landscape”, Gerapetris invoked the concept of “Neki kar dariya me daal” — doing good without expecting anything in return — as a foundation for India and Greece’s collaboration.
“This is the volatile atmosphere that we encounter today around the world. We should be more on the side of moral principles when it comes to international relations. Neki kar dariya me daal… on the basis of this idea, which means rule-based principle foreign policy alongside alliances built on a transnational and transregional level, I think the cooperation between India and Greece is a model, is an exemplary case of how states should operate”, he elaborated.
IMEC a ‘channel of peace’ & maritime security
The Greek minister underscored the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) — a project to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative. “We need to abandon the idea of local, limited, restricted, narrow regionalism and go into an intermediate level of a new prospect of multilateralism on an intermediate level. And I think the Indian-Middle East-Europe corridor is exactly this. We are both stakeholders of global challenges,” he said.
Gerapetris, who is on an official visit to India, focused on the route’s contribution to maritime security, which was of vital concern for global peace and prosperity. Particularly for Greece, the minister said, which controls over 20 percent of the world’s merchant fleet.
Gerapetritis pointed out the severe consequences of reduced traffic through the Suez Canal, which has led to a dramatic loss in Egypt’s income, with estimates suggesting a 75 percent drop as vessels are rerouting around Africa.
He said this was discussed in his meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar earlier in the day, “on how to coordinate in order to elevate the status of maritime protection to the benefit of our two nations” since India too has “a vested interest” in maritime security.
In relation to this, Gerapetritis spoke of the strategic importance of the IMEC, which he described as more than just an infrastructure project for the exchange of goods, energy, and data.
“IMEC is a channel of peace,” he stated, noting that it offered an alternative to traditional trade routes, reducing reliance on a single path.
This diversification is crucial for the stability of global trade and the security of maritime routes, he said, pointing to Europe’s over-reliance on Russian natural gas as a cautionary tale.
“The example of Russia and the over-reliance of Europe on Russian natural gas is exemplary. IMEC is going to be a landmark project for the future. We need to have a very strong alliance of like-minded states based on democratic values, free flow of people and goods to develop that new access. And we’re going to work very hard with India.”
He further highlighted India’s growing role on the global stage, stating the country should be positioned at a much higher level in international governance. Gerapetris said Greece would support India’s demand for a seat at the United Nations Security Council.
Expanding ties and future collaboration
The Greek foreign minister also spoke of Greece’s active ports, which were crucial for international trade. Greece is in the process of privatising 10 key ports, and Gerapetritis highlighted the potential for collaboration with India in this venture. “We have significant ports that are pivotal for international trade, and we are discussing potential Indian participation,” he said. “There’s no competition between our nations, only complementarity.”
While bilateral trade between Greece and India has been “dramatically disappointing”, Gerapetritis stressed the importance of growing economic ties. He acknowledged the relationship between the two countries has evolved only recently, following a high-level visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Athens in August 2023 and Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ upcoming February visit.
“In the coming months, we aim to finalise a menu of potential investments on both sides to explore opportunities for significantly boosting our bilateral trade. There are numerous sectors to consider, including tourism, real estate, and maritime, which offer mutual benefits. Greece has a strong merchant fleet, prominent shipowners, and shipyards, as well as the expertise, capital, and experience that can be shared with India,” he said.
On the migration front, Greece and India were also working on a new legal framework to allow Indian workers, particularly in sectors facing labour shortages in Greece, to work in the country under favourable conditions, Gerapetris said.
Another area of focus was direct air links between Athens and India. Gerapetritis confirmed that discussions were ongoing, with the first direct flights expected by next summer, which would facilitate both tourism and business exchanges. In addition, Greece also planned to open two new consulates in India by 2026, a move aimed at enhancing consular services and trade facilitation.
Gerapetritis further said future areas for collaboration would include tourism, real estate, shipping, green energy, and artificial intelligence (AI). He praised India’s progress in AI and announced that Greece, selected as one of seven European countries to host an AI laboratory, was eager to collaborate with India on the technology.
The foreign minister emphasised the shared moral values between Greece and India, noting that Greece sought to work with “friendly and trustworthy” countries, with India standing out as a prime example.
“It’s a large country with a huge diplomatic footprint, and one that could lead the emerging world of the Global South,” he said.
Gerapetritis also highlighted the potential for deeper academic exchanges between the two countries. Following Greece’s recent decision to lift a constitutional ban on private universities, there was now enhanced collaboration between Greek and Indian universities, particularly in STEM fields, alongside traditional disciplines like history, literature, and archaeology.
“The truth is that there’s going to be some significant changes in the perception of the globalisation of international affairs. So we need to be prepared for what is happening, and we need to solidify partnerships of like-minded states of like-minded people,” he noted.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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