- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Kyriakos Mitsotakis lauded India’s growing role in shaping global debates and addressing significant challenges, portraying it as a consensus builder and a voice of reason in a polarised world.
By: Shubham Ghosh
GREEK prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday (21) emphasized the significance of India as a vital ally in the pursuit of global peace and security during his address at the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. Mitsotakis, who arrived in India on a state visit and was the chief guest at the three-day dialogue, added that strengthening the partnership with India should serve as the cornerstone of Europe’s foreign policy.
The visiting leader underscored the conflict in Ukraine as more than merely a “local war on European soil,” characterizing it as a severe challenge to international stability and the rules-based order that India has actively supported. The session was attended by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, foreign ministers from various nations, as well as a host of strategic affairs experts and academics.
Mitsotakis hailed India’s growing role in shaping global debates and addressing significant challenges, portraying it as a consensus builder and a voice of reason in an increasingly polarised world.
Warm welcome to PM @kmitsotakis of the Hellenic Republic as he arrives in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India.
Received by MoS @M_Lekhi at the airport.
PM Mitsotakis is the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at #RaisinaDialogue2024. pic.twitter.com/wkr0uuU8T8
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 20, 2024
“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,” Mitsotakis, who was received at the airport by Indian minister of state for external affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, said.
Attended the Inaugural Session of the @raisinadialogue. Heard the insightful views of PM @kmitsotakis. #Raisina2024 pic.twitter.com/rUmRzS3iPZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 21, 2024
“Strengthening our partnership with India should be the cornerstone of Europe’s foreign policy and this is certainly true for my country,” he said. Highlighting the significance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Mitsotakis said Greece is sitting right at the centre of it.
“We are your natural doorstep to Europe and beyond,” he said, calling the IMEC as a “peace project”.
“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 said, noting that the stakeholders in the project must work tirelessly to implement the project. “The IMEC is a peace project which can bring peace and prosperity,” the Greek prime minister said.
Had a productive meeting with PM @kmitsotakis earlier today. Our talks covered key areas like technology, pharmaceuticals, skill development, space and innovation. We also agreed to boost cooperation in areas like shipping, connectivity and defence. pic.twitter.com/cYzj3OtMHQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 21, 2024
On Ukraine, the Greek leader said it is not a local war on European soil. “Ukraine is much more than a local war on European soil. It is a brutal challenge to international stability and the international rules-based order that India has supported and has every interest in maintaining it,” he said.
“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,” the visiting leader, who is accompanied by his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis, said. The first couple also paid homage to India’s iconic freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial in Raj Ghat.
Delighted to call on Prime Minister @kmitsotakis of Greece today.
Valued his commitment to enhancing India-Greece ties. Look forward to the strengthening of our strategic partnership. pic.twitter.com/SP1LnYY4Tv
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 21, 2024
“I am convinced on Ukraine that India has an important role to play. It has a voice that should be heard. Our common humanity and interconnectedness are inescapable…the Hindu scriptures put it so powerfully that the World is One Family,” Mitsotakis said. Delving into major geopolitical challenges, he said Indo-Pacific is a major area of focus for the European Union.
The Greek leader also talked about challenges facing democracies and democratic values. Society functions best when all its citizens are equal and have the right to share in the running of the state, he said. “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,” he said.
On India-Greece ties, Mitsotakis said good progress has been made. “We are at an 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,” he said.
The Greek premier also had talks with his Indian counterpart and foreign minister Jaishankar.
The Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy. The theme of the three-day conference is “Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create”.
(With PTI inputs)
