Why India's Growing Closeness To Armenia And Greece Will Trouble The Turkey, Azerbaijan And Pakistan Axis

India's strengthening ties with Armenia and Greece have caused concern for Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan, who have been working together to counter India's influence in the Middle East and Central Asia.

India's decision to sell arms to Armenia and enhance its strategic partnership with Greece is viewed as a direct challenge to these countries. Armenia, a traditional ally of Russia, and Greece, a NATO member, hold significant importance in India's efforts to send a strong message to the informal triad led by Turkey.

India's growing relations with Armenia and Greece are part of a broader strategy to diversify its partnerships in the region. The country no longer solely relies on its traditional allies like Russia and Iran, instead seeking new alliances with countries that share its interests, such as Greece and Armenia.

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, India's ties with Armenia have steadily grown. The signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2019 has resulted in increased cooperation in trade, investment, defense, and culture. India's provision of military assistance to Armenia has further strained its relationship with Azerbaijan.

Relations between India and Greece have been steadily growing in recent years. In 2020, the two countries signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, leading to increased cooperation in defense, trade, and energy. India has also been providing military assistance to Greece, which has caused tension with Turkey.

India's strengthening ties with Armenia and Greece are likely to unsettle the alliance formed by Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan. This alliance is already facing internal challenges due to disagreements between Turkey and Azerbaijan over the Eastern Mediterranean. India's actions may further strain relations within the alliance and potentially escalate tensions in the region.

India is taking a subtle approach in developing relationships with these countries. Rather than aggressively countering them, it is gradually building ties one by one. This strategy is expected to be more effective in the long run, as it will make it harder for these countries to unite against India.

India is benefiting from the fact that the alliance is not a unified bloc. Differences of opinion exist within the alliance, and India is leveraging these differences to its advantage. Despite Greece being a member of NATO, which is a significant ally of Turkey, India has managed to forge closer ties with Greece.

India's strategic approach of quietly but steadily building ties with Armenia, Greece, and Iran is a wise move that is expected to yield positive results in the future. These efforts reflect India's increasing strategic interests in the Mediterranean region, which holds significant importance for its energy security due to its abundant oil and gas resources. Additionally, India aims to enhance its trade and investment relations with this region.

Furthermore, India's growing connections with Armenia and Greece serve as a countermeasure against China's expanding influence in the Mediterranean region. China has been actively strengthening its economic and military presence in the area, prompting India to actively balance China's influence.

These partnerships, along with India's relationship with Iran, highlight the country's shifting geopolitical priorities. India is no longer content with a passive role and is actively seeking to expand its global influence and presence. Consequently, this pursuit is likely to result in intensified geopolitical dynamics in the region in the coming years.

The forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Greece is highly significant, according to Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, as reported by Financial Express.

He further added, there has been an increase in interactive exchanges, particularly at the ministerial level, in recent years. This includes the security and defense sectors. Trade and investments are also experiencing positive growth, and the visit of Prime Minister Modi is expected to further enhance security cooperation between the two countries.

He noted that Greece has shown support for India on the Kashmir issue and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Additionally, Greece is interested in attracting Indian investments and could potentially assist in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union.

According to him, Greece holds significance for India due to various reasons. Firstly, it aligns with India's maritime strategy and collaboration, encompassing areas such as hydrocarbons, navigation, and security. This multifaceted relationship presents opportunities for collaboration, including countering the influence of unfriendly powers.