New Delhi– The European Union has expressed readiness to strengthen its strategic partnership with India, as stated by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. Speaking at the European Parliament, Kallas highlighted plans to formalize a new Security and Defence Partnership, aimed at enhancing cooperation in maritime security, counterterrorism, and cyber defence.
The agreement is expected to be formalized during the upcoming EU-India Summit in New Delhi, underlining a pivotal moment in bilateral relations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also emphasized the near-finalization of a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, describing it as a transformative deal covering markets of nearly two billion people and a quarter of global GDP.
The 16th EU-India Summit, scheduled for January 27, 2026, will be co-chaired by Antonio Luís dos Santos da Costa and von der Leyen. The EU delegation will attend India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations as chief guests and hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, alongside discussions on trade, defence, technology, and sustainability.
The summit is expected to advance both economic and security cooperation, with the Defence Partnership potentially including joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and capability development. The India-EU Business Forum on the sidelines of the summit aims to foster collaboration in renewables, digital trade, and advanced manufacturing, aligning with India’s Make in India initiative and EU green and digital transition goals.
While challenges remain in tariff negotiations and regulatory harmonization, both sides are optimistic about cementing a decade-long roadmap that strengthens trade, defence, and geopolitical alignment, reinforcing the India-EU strategic axis in the evolving multipolar world order.
