Cyprus and India have reaffirmed their long-standing ties and the further strengthening of their cooperation on defence and security issues during an event on board the Indian Naval Ship (INS) ‘Trikand’, that has docked in Limassol.
Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Alexis Vafeades, who was representing the President of the Republic, welcomed the crew to the port of Limassol, and said that this is the "continuation on the momentum that began last June" with the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus. INS Trikand, he added, can count on the hospitality of Cypriot ports on its future trips.
He said that “great progress” is already being made as members of the government visit India and work to strengthen and improve relations between the two countries and praised the work of the High Commission of India towards this end.
Vafeades noted that Cyprus has also a lot to offer to India saying that “despite the differences in size and population, I believe that Cyprus can be a reliable partner for India in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
High Commissioner of India Shri Manish to Cyprus said that the visit of the frigate is a milestone for the relations between the two countries, adding that these relations are very deeply rooted.
The governments of Cyprus and India, he continued, have finalised a joint action plan for the period 2025-2029, which provides a framework for cooperation and defence, including joint naval training in the defence sector and hosting of Indian naval ships.
Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General George Tsitsikostas, said that the arrival of the frigate and the Indian flag flying in the port of Limassol “is a strong symbol of friendship and commitment of both states to strengthen the presence and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
He also announced that he will soon host his Indian counterpart in Cyprus “a visit that will mark another milestone in our relations, further strengthening the institutional dialogue and strategic cooperation between our armed forces”.
The frigate's captain, Sachin Kulkarni, noted that Cyprus "is not just an island in the Mediterranean, it is a meeting point of civilizations, a bridge between East and West".
India and Cyprus, he added, may be many kilometers apart geographically, "but our peoples are connected by deep cultural affinities, love for tradition, respect for heritage and an unwavering spirit of resilience, and these qualities have led us both through centuries of challenges and triumphs".
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) ‘Trikand’, a state-of-the-art Talwar-class guided missile frigate, makes a port call at Limassol, Cyprus, from 21-24 September 2025. The port call by INS ‘Trikand’ is a follow up on the understanding reached between the leaders of India and Cyprus during the landmark visit of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to Cyprus from 15-16 June 2025.
Commissioned on 29 June 29 2013, INS ‘Trikand’ is a 4,035-ton (full load) warship, 124.8 meters long, with a crew of 180 personnel, including 18 officers. Equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles (range: 300 km, speed: Mach 3), stealth technologies, and a Kamov Ka-31 helicopter, it excels in anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.
Its distinguished service includes humanitarian missions in Indian Ocean, as well as participation in multinational exercises like Naseem Al Bahr with Oman (13-18 October 2018) and Exercise Bright Star 2025 in Egypt (27 August – 11 September, 2025), showcasing its role in maritime security and humanitarian assistance. Officials who visited the frigate include among many others, Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hatzimanoli, Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nikolas Ioannides, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Theodora Konstantinidou, Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides.
(Source: CNA)
