The MEA bilateral brief of May 2026 does not describe development assistance, training programmes or lines of credit between India and the Republic of Cyprus (RoC). This article covers the sectoral cooperation it does record: defence, UN peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, digital technology and artificial intelligence, start-ups, space, maritime affairs and legal exchanges.

Defence cooperation

According to the MEA brief of May 2026, an MoU on Defence and Military Cooperation was signed on 29 December 2022. The Indian Defence Attache, based at the Embassy of India in Cairo, was accredited to Cyprus on 12 September 2024.

The Chief of the National Guard of RoC, Lieutenant General Dimokritos Zervakis, and India's Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, held a telephone conversation on 14 August 2023. They addressed Eastern Mediterranean geostrategic challenges and issues of shared interest.

A Bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme (BDCP) for 2025 was signed in Nicosia on 23 January 2025. It outlined activities to be carried out in Cyprus and India, including a Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on Defence Cooperation. On 18 February 2026 a BDCP for 2026 was signed in Nicosia, which includes several activities for enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Visits and exchanges

  • A Cypriot defence delegation led by the Permanent Secretary of the Defence Ministry of RoC, Ms. Anna Aristotelous, took part in AERO India 2025 in Bengaluru from 10-14 February 2025. On the sidelines, she met Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth to discuss defence cooperation.
  • A defence delegation led by Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence, with officials of the Ministry and the CMDs of BDL and BEL, visited Cyprus from 11-13 September 2025.
  • INS 'Trikand', a Talwar-class guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, made a port call at Limassol Port from 21-24 September 2025, and conducted a PASSEX (Passing Exercise) with the Cyprus Navy.
  • The High Commission of India in Nicosia organised a "Brand India" event in Defence Production in Nicosia from 2-4 March 2026.

UN peacekeeping in Cyprus

India has contributed three Force Commanders to the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) since its creation in 1964: Lieutenant General PS Gyani, General KS Thimayya and Major General Diwan Prem Chand. As of May 2026, one officer from the Indian Army was serving in UNFICYP.

General KS Thimayya died while on active duty in Cyprus in 1965. In 1966 he was honoured with a commemorative stamp and with an avenue named after him in Larnaca.

Counter-terrorism

Mr. Nicos Nouris, Interior Minister of RoC, visited India to attend the 3rd Ministerial Conference on Counter Terrorism, "No Money for Terror", from 18-19 November 2022. Tackling terrorism was among the focus areas the two leaders named during the Prime Minister's visit to Cyprus in June 2025.

Digital technology and artificial intelligence

Dr. Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of RoC, visited India on 18-19 February 2026 and represented President Christodoulides at the "India AI Impact Summit 2026" in New Delhi. He was accompanied by the Chief Scientist, Dr. Demetris Skourides, and took part in the Ministerial Discussion "Safe & Trusted AI", on secure, reliable and human-centric AI systems and international regulatory cooperation. On the sidelines, he met Indian officials including Shri Priyank M. Kharge, Minister of Technology and Biotechnology of Karnataka.

During his visit to New Delhi in September 2024, Dr. Damianou met Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and for Electronics and Information Technology, to discuss cooperation in digital transformation, AI and cybersecurity.

Dr. Skourides also took part in the EU-India Forum in New Delhi on 6-7 February 2026, to strengthen Cyprus' role in the EU-India Innovation and Technology Partnership. He was accompanied by Nicolas Kyriakides, President of the Cyprus Forum.

Start-ups and innovation

India participated as a partner country in Reflect Festival 2023 (20-21 September) and in Reflect Festival 2024 (30-31 May 2024) in Limassol, which the brief describes as the largest tech event of the region. In 2023, 8 Indian start-ups took part under the aegis of DPIIT. In 2024, 8 Indian start-ups took part, along with Pristyn Care, an Indian unicorn.

Space

On 3 November 2025 an Indian delegation took part in the 6th COSPAR 2025 Scientific Symposium, themed "Humanity's Challenges & Celestial Solutions", hosted in Nicosia by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) and the International Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). The delegation included officials from ISRO and a representative of the Indian space-tech start-up Pixxelspace India Private Ltd. The High Commission of India facilitated meetings between ISRO and Pixxel and Cypriot entities.

Maritime affairs

Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, visited RoC from 08-11 October 2023 to attend the "Cyprus Maritime 2023 Conference" in Limassol, organised by the Deputy Shipping Ministry of RoC. The Maritime Service Exhibition was inaugurated by the President of RoC, Nikos Christodoulides, together with the Minister of State and the Shipping Deputy Minister of RoC, Ms. Marina Hadjimanolis.

An Indian delegation led by Justice Mr. Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and Attorney General Mr. R. Venkataramani took part in the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) International Conference at the University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus (UCLan Cyprus), from 7-8 October 2024. The delegation met Ms. Katerina Stamatiou, President of the Supreme Court, and Ms. Rea Limnatitou, Former President of the Court of Appeal. It also met the Attorney General of Cyprus, George L. Savvides, and Deputy Attorney-General Savvas Angelides.