PM Modi to begin 3-nation tour from Cyprus today

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi will travel to Cyprus on Sunday for the first leg of his three-nation tour that will see him participating in the G7 Summit in Canada and also visiting Croatia on his way back.

Modi is also expected to have several bilateral meetings on the margins of the summit in Kananaskis.While the PM will have a meeting with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney, his other bilateral engagements are still being worked out, official sources said. Modi will also come face to face with US President Donald Trump for the first time since their meeting in Feb.The ministry of external affairs said in a statement that the visit to Cyprus - the first by an Indian PM since AB Vajpayee visited the country in 2002 - will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India's engagement with the Mediterranean region and the European Union.The visit to Cyprus is significant also as it comes in the middle of India's tensions with Turkiye over the latter's support to Pakistan. Ankara's recognition of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the northern region that was seized by Turkish forces in 1974 and differences over gas exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean remain a constant source of tensions between Turkiye and Cyprus.Modi is expected to reach Canada on June 16, a day after the opening of the G7 Summit.

This would be his sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit. "At the summit, the PM will exchange views with leaders of G7 countries, other invited outreach countries and heads of international organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues," said the government in its announcement.For the final leg of his tour, Modi will undertake an official visit to Croatia on June 18. This will be the first ever visit by an Indian PM to Croatia, marking an important milestone in the bilateral relationship. "The visit to Croatia will also underscore India's commitment to further strengthening its engagement with partners in the European Union," said the government.