Jaishankar meets Greek FM Gerapetritis at UNGA81
Synopsis
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2026, with talks centred on regional developments of mutual interest to both nations.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar met Greek FM George Gerapetritis on the sidelines of UNGA81 in New York on September 25, 2026 .
The two sides discussed 'regional developments of mutual interest' — no specific outcomes or joint statement were issued.
India and Greece have maintained diplomatic relations since 1950 .
PM Modi's August 2023 visit to Athens marked the first Indian prime ministerial visit to Greece in over four decades, elevating bilateral ties.
Greece is a member of both the EU and NATO , and sits at the crossroads of Eastern Mediterranean maritime and energy corridors.
India uses the annual UNGA margins as a concentrated bilateral workshop with European and other global partners.
On the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar sat down with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on Friday, September 25, 2026 — a bilateral exchange that underlines how India is using the world's largest diplomatic gathering to methodically advance ties with European partners.
Jaishankar described the meeting warmly, calling Gerapetritis 'my friend' and noting their conversation 'focused on regional developments of mutual interest' — diplomatic shorthand that, at the margins of a General Assembly week dominated by Eastern Mediterranean tensions and Indo-Pacific debates, carries its own weight.
Why Greece matters to India's European calculus
India and Greece have maintained formal diplomatic relations since 1950, but the relationship shifted into a higher gear in August 2023, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Athens — the first Indian prime ministerial visit to Greece in over four decades. That landmark trip signalled New Delhi's intent to cultivate southern European partners, not just the traditional heavyweights of Berlin, Paris, and London. Greece, a member of both the EU and NATO, sits at the crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean, a region increasingly relevant to global energy corridors and maritime security — two areas where India has deepening interests. Athens has also been a participant in broader connectivity conversations, making it a natural interlocutor as India looks to diversify its European diplomatic footprint.UNGA margins as India's bilateral workshop
The Jaishankar-Gerapetritis meeting is one of many India conducts each September in New York. For Indian diplomacy, the General Assembly week functions as a rolling bilateral workshop — a rare moment when foreign ministers from across the globe converge in one city, making it possible to pack a month's worth of engagement into five days. India has consistently used these margins for issue-based diplomacy with European partners, threading together conversations on trade, connectivity, and regional security without the weight of a formal summit. The Greece meeting fits that pattern precisely. The specific regional developments the two ministers discussed were not disclosed, and no joint statement has been issued — standard practice for a margins meeting at this level. With the General Assembly in full session, the question is whether the conversation with Athens produces a follow-up — a visit, a working group, or a joint position on an Eastern Mediterranean or Indo-Pacific issue — that moves the needle beyond the cordial and into the consequential.Point of View
New Delhi has been methodically building a southern European pillar — using forums like UNGA to sustain momentum between formal summits. Greece's dual EU-NATO membership and Eastern Mediterranean positioning give it outsized relevance to India's maritime and connectivity agenda. Whether this margins exchange graduates into structured bilateral mechanism will be the real test of how seriously both sides view the relationship.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jaishankar meet the Greek FM at UNGA81?
EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar met Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2026, to discuss regional developments of mutual interest to India and Greece.
What is the current state of India-Greece relations?
India and Greece have maintained diplomatic relations since 1950. Ties received a significant boost in August 2023 when PM Narendra Modi visited Athens — the first Indian prime ministerial visit to Greece in over four decades.
Is Greece a NATO and EU member?
Yes. Greece is a member of both the European Union and NATO, making it a strategically significant partner for India's European diplomacy.
Has India been engaging more with southern European countries?
Yes. India has been expanding its diplomatic outreach to southern Europe, with Greece featuring prominently after PM Modi's 2023 Athens visit, particularly on maritime and connectivity issues.
