Ankara/New Delhi | July 10, 2025 – Bharat Global Time
Tensions are flaring in the Eastern Mediterranean after Turkey invited senior Pakistani military officials to Northern Cyprus, a breakaway region only recognized by Ankara. The move came days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Cyprus, signaling deepening India–EU ties and challenging Turkish influence in the region.
The Turkish government’s abrupt military overture to Islamabad has triggered concern in diplomatic circles and has been seen in New Delhi as a “panicked response” to India’s growing global clout.
“Turkey’s desperation is showing. The Cyprus move is a weak attempt to counter India’s rising influence,” said a top Indian diplomat, speaking to Bharat Global Time.
Modi’s Cyprus Visit: A Strategic Earthquake?
PM Modi’s recent visit to Nicosia, the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, was hailed as a “diplomatic masterstroke” by foreign policy experts. During the trip:
- India signed defense cooperation and maritime security agreements
- Cyprus backed India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat
- Both sides vowed to increase energy, naval, and tech collaboration
Notably, Modi also called for the “respect of Cyprus’s sovereignty”, a subtle but strong rebuke to Turkey’s illegal military presence in Northern Cyprus since 1974.
Pak Army Invited to “Train” in North Cyprus?
Reacting swiftly, Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced it has invited Pakistani military officials for joint “training and surveillance coordination” in Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus.
This is the first time any foreign army (outside NATO) has been officially invited to operate in the region — and India isn’t taking it lightly.
“This is a direct provocation not just to Cyprus, but to India and the broader democratic world,” said an EU official.
India Strikes Back: Diplomatic & Strategic
Within 48 hours of Turkey’s announcement, India responded on multiple fronts:
1. Naval Deployment in the Mediterranean
India has diverted INS Chennai, a guided-missile destroyer, to dock in Greece’s Souda Bay, signaling its arrival in the East Med defense equation.
2. New Delhi Summons Turkish Envoy
India’s MEA summoned the Turkish ambassador, warning that military ties with Pakistan in disputed zones will have consequences.
3. India–Cyprus–Greece Trilateral Being Formed
Discussions are underway for a new trilateral security alliance between India, Greece, and Cyprus — a counterweight to the Turkey–Pakistan–Azerbaijan axis.
Global Implications
This geopolitical chessboard is part of a larger pattern of alignment:
- India is aligning deeper with EU, Quad, and Eastern Mediterranean powers
- Turkey is drawing closer to Pakistan and radical Islamist blocs
- Pakistan sees Cyprus as a bargaining chip to “internationalize” Kashmir, a move India has strongly condemned
“What Turkey did in Cyprus, it wants Pakistan to try in Kashmir. But India’s global weight is no longer what it was in 1990,” said a retired Indian Army General.
What to Watch Next
- India’s expanded naval footprint in the Med and Red Sea
- Cyprus bringing the Turkish-Pak alliance to EU attention
- Possible sanctions or arms blockades by France or Greece
- Intensifying proxy tension between India–Turkey across West Asia and Africa
Bharat Global Time will continue to monitor developments in this fast-unfolding strategic triangle — Cyprus, India, and Turkey — where diplomacy, military, and alliances are being redrawn before our eyes
