External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday, 22 August held a telephonic conversation with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, covering current geopolitical developments and bilateral cooperation. The two ministers agreed to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, with Greece's foreign ministry confirming that Gerapetritis also extended a formal invitation for Jaishankar to visit Greece.

What Was Discussed

The call covered bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest, according to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which posted details of the conversation on X. Jaishankar also acknowledged the exchange, noting that the two sides 'discussed current developments and agreed to remain in touch.' The upcoming UNGA session in New York will serve as the next formal touchpoint between the two ministers.

Defence Cooperation Gaining Momentum

The phone call comes against a backdrop of steadily deepening defence ties between the two countries. Last month, India's Ambassador to Greece, Ravi Shankar, met Lt. Gen. Demosthenes Grigoriadis, Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, to review ongoing air force cooperation initiatives. According to the Indian Embassy in Greece, India's participation in INIOCHOS — a major annual multinational air combat training exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force — and Greece's participation in Tarang Shakti, the Indian Air Force's largest biennial multinational air exercise, have 'fostered mutual understanding and partnerships.'

Counter-Terrorism and Strategic Partnership

In June 2026, the two countries held the 14th Round of India-Greece Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi, co-chaired by Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West), and Ambassador Andreas Fryganas, Director General for Political Affairs. Both sides reiterated their commitment to combat cross-border terrorism and reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations — spanning political and defence ties, trade and investment, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation — with the stated aim of further strengthening the strategic partnership.

Modi-Mitsotakis Meeting Earlier This Year

The diplomatic momentum traces back to February 2026, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis met on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The two leaders reviewed the India-Greece strategic partnership across trade and commerce, defence and security, tourism, culture, and collaboration in AI and emerging technologies. Notably, discussions also centred on boosting connectivity through the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a flagship connectivity initiative that positions both nations as strategic nodes in a potential trans-regional trade route.

What Comes Next

The confirmed UNGA sideline meeting between Jaishankar and Gerapetritis in New York will be closely watched as both nations seek to translate a series of high-level engagements into concrete outcomes — particularly in defence interoperability and IMEC-linked connectivity. With India's foreign policy increasingly oriented toward diversifying strategic partnerships in Europe, Greece is emerging as a meaningful node in that architecture.