In his Wednesday speech, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that Europe's foreign policy should center on strengthening ties with India, an essential ally in the quest of world peace and security.
To Mitsotakis, the situation in Ukraine is a "brutal challenge" to global peace and the rules-based order that India has supported; he went on to call it more than just a "local war on European soil" during his speech at the first Raisina Dialogue session. Attendees included foreign ministers from multiple nations, academics and specialists in strategic affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
According to the Greek prime minister, India is increasingly seen as a way to bring people together and find common ground in a world where opinions are becoming more divided. This perception is justified when it comes to the country's ability to shape global debates and tackle significant concerns. “Today, India is a great power on the world stage and an important ally in pursuit of peace and security—a rising force at the heart of G20 and a leading player in the fight against climate change,” said Mitsotakis, the chief guest at the Raisina Dialogue.
"Strengthening our partnership with India should be the cornerstone of Europe’s foreign policy and this is certainly true for my country," added the president. Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and claimed that Greece is located in the middle of it.
According to him, the IMEC is a "peace project" and we are the "natural doorstep" to Europe and beyond. "The war in Gaza and the turmoil in the Middle-East is undoubtedly destabilising but it has not undermined the profound and powerful logic behind the IMEC," he added, emphasizing that the project's partners must work diligently to have the project implemented.
"The IMEC is a peace project which can bring peace and prosperity," remarked Mitsotakis. According to the Greek leader, the conflict in Ukraine is not a European-wide issue. Nothing short of a global conflict has broken out in Ukraine. According to him, it poses a severe threat to global peace and security, as well as the international rules-based order, which India has long advocated for and is keen on preserving.
"We all have a responsibility to use the power we have on the international stage and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines," stated the president. I think India can play a significant role in helping Ukraine. It deserves to have its opinion heard. It is impossible to escape our shared humanity and interdependence..."The World is One Family," Mitsotakis declared, using the Hindu scriptures.
When asked about the most pressing geopolitical issues, he responded that the Indo-Pacific region is one of the EU's top priorities. The difficulties that democracies and democratic principles face were also discussed by the Greek leader. He argued that a state is most effective when all of its inhabitants are treated fairly and given equal say in its administration. "We must, if necessary, own up to our mistakes, but above all we must listen to each other with mutual respect and without preaching or exhibiting any sense of moral superiority," according to him.
He argued that for democracies to function, it is essential that voters have access to accurate information before casting their ballots. There has been good development on India-Greece connections, according to Mitsotakis. "We are at a unique moment of mutually beneficial opportunities — one in which Greece, given its geographic, cultural and strategic proximity, can act as an interlocutor between India and Europe and even between Global North and Global South as well as between East and West," according to him.
When it comes to geopolitics and geo-strategy, India's premier conference is the Raisina Dialogue. "Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create" is the moniker of the three-day gathering. An integral part of India's progressive ascent, according to Jaishankar's brief speech, is the country's increasing involvement in the Mediterranean. "The India-Greece partnership can surely serve as an anchor," according to him.
Greece has become an attractive location for Indian investments as the country expands its global reach. It is already home to our aviation, agro-business, and pharmaceutical industries, he added. Greek investment and interest in India are on the rise, which the prime minister brought up in his speech. We anticipate that a mobility agreement will further strengthen our bond. According to Jaishankar, raisins are also helpful for business.
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