With an emphasis on advancing political, defense, and security cooperation, India and Greece upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership during PM Modi’s visit to Greece, the first by an Indian PM in forty years.
Grand Cross of the Order of Honor given to PM Modi
During his visit, Greek President Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou presented Modi with the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor, making him the first foreign head of state to do so. The second-highest civilian honor in the country is this title.
Further, it states, “On the occasion of this visit, the Greek State Honours the Prime Minister of India, a statesman who has tirelessly promoted the global reach of his country and who works systematically for India’s economic progress and prosperity, bringing about bold reforms. A statesman who has brought environmental protection and climate change among the top priorities of international activity.”A person is awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor for being “eminent personalities who by reason of their distinguished position, have contributed to enhancing the stature of Greece”.
Indo-Greece Agenda
The two presidents vehemently condemned all acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, in all of its varieties and manifestations, wherever it takes place and whoever perpetrates it. In a joint statement, the two countries backed their vision of an Indo-Pacific region that is open, free, and governed by rules, as well as one that incorporates the Mediterranean Sea (where Greece is involved in a dispute with Turkey over the Aegean Sea), both of which uphold international maritime law and permit free navigation.
PM Modi addresses Indian diaspora in Greece
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that by raising the Tricolor above the Moon, India had demonstrated its capabilities to the world and that its advances in science, technology, and creativity are having an impact all over the world.
Speaking to the Indian community in Greece, he also highlighted a number of his government’s accomplishments in terms of growth over the past nine years and emphasised how much money has never before been invested in the infrastructure sector.
Since 2014, India has installed over 25 lakh kilometres of optical fibre cable, which the speaker pointed out is more than six times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. He said that India had successfully introduced homegrown 5G technology to 700 districts in record time, to the audience’s applause.
The tallest statue, the largest cricket stadium, and the highest raid bridge in the world are all currently located in India, PM Modi noted.
He said that the country’s position is rapidly shifting in the post-COVID-19 world order and that prominent organisations like the World Bank and the IMF are applauding the Indian economy and competing with one another to invest there.
In reference to this week’s successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface, Modi claimed that by raising the Tricolor to the Moon, India had demonstrated its capabilities to the rest of the world.
The prime minister commended the contributions of Sikh gurus in fostering closer links between India and Greece, citing long-standing ties between the two civilizations, he said. He stated that his government had dedicated itself to remembering Sikh-related events.
