“In the last year, our relationship has seen a huge upswing. It’s not often that we can say we had such a rapid exchange of Prime Ministerial visits. We have strong political comfort and people-to-people understanding. We would like more trade, more investment, more technological collaboration, and perhaps explore ways to work together on connectivity,” Jaishankar remarked.

Greek Foreign Minister Gerapetritis expressed Greece’s readiness to enhance bilateral relations across various sectors, including tourism, culture, and trade. He emphasized that the two countries have made significant strides in recent years and that Greece is keen on strengthening cooperation, particularly within the framework of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where both nations are members.

“In the last couple of years, the bilateral relations between Greece and India have been upscaled tremendously. We would like to upscale our bilateral relations in all respects, including tourism, culture, and trade. As members of the UNSC, we would like to echo the voice of India within the United Nations,” Gerapetritis said. “We would also like to be reliable interlocutors in the EU-India relationship. It is a unique opportunity for us as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations,” he added.

The Greek Foreign Minister’s visit to India is part of efforts to deepen diplomatic and strategic ties between the two countries. On Wednesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also welcomed Gerapetritis, noting that his visit would further strengthen the growing strategic partnership between India and Greece.

India and Greece have maintained a long-standing relationship, supporting each other on key international issues such as Kashmir and Cyprus. Greece has consistently aligned with India on the Kashmir issue and supported India’s bid for a permanent seat in an expanded UNSC.

The Indian community in Greece, which has steadily grown over the years, also plays a vital role in fostering people-to-people connections. According to the 2011 Greek census, there were around 11,333 Indian nationals in Greece, with current estimates ranging between 13,000 and 14,000. The majority of these expatriates are of Punjabi origin, particularly Sikhs, and are engaged in farming, construction, and manufacturing sectors.

Gerapetritis’ visit is expected to further cement India-Greece ties, with an emphasis on expanding collaboration in strategic, economic, and diplomatic areas.

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The discussions were co-chaired by India’s Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), KD Dewal, and Italy’s Senior Deputy Director for Political Affairs and Director for Security of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alessandro Azzoni.

Strengthening Multilateral Cooperation

A key outcome of the meeting was the reaffirmation of both countries’ dedication to cooperation in multilateral fora such as the United Nations, the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the dialogue reflected the strategic partnership between India and Italy, underscoring their shared resolve to confront terrorism and transnational organised crime through international collaboration.

“The two sides discussed the importance of advancing the ongoing negotiations on various bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening mutual cooperation,” the MEA statement read.

Focus on Technology and Prosecution

Both delegations paid particular attention to the misuse of technology for terrorist purposes. As terrorism increasingly exploits advancements in digital technology, India and Italy recognised the urgent need to enhance cooperative measures to prevent and mitigate this threat. Both countries emphasized the importance of an effective legal framework and the prosecution of those responsible for terrorist activities.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on a wide range of areas related to counterterrorism and organised crime, with both sides agreeing to strengthen joint efforts to address the evolving threats.

Capacity-Building Initiatives

In a significant development, the Indian delegation also visited the Inter-agency Law Enforcement Academy in Caserta, Italy. During this visit, they held discussions with Italian officials on possible capacity-building initiatives between the Academy and its Indian counterparts. The collaboration is expected to further bolster the ability of both countries’ law enforcement agencies to effectively address security challenges.

Future Engagement

The successful outcomes of the 5th JWG meeting set the stage for continued collaboration between India and Italy. The two sides agreed to hold the next Joint Working Group meeting in Delhi at a mutually convenient time. This ongoing dialogue reaffirms the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations and their shared commitment to global security.

As both India and Italy continue to strengthen their partnership in counterterrorism and organised crime, their cooperation is set to play an essential role in advancing international security efforts.

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