EU President Ursula von der Leyen in India: Strengthening Strategic Ties and Pushing for Free Trade Agreement
- Eurasia India International Affairs South Asia
Shreya Naskar- 0
- 3 minutes read
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to India has reaffirmed the deepening strategic relationship between India and the EU. During her visit, she called India a “trusted strategic ally” and emphasized the need to finalize a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union. If concluded, this deal would be the largest of its kind, strengthening economic and geopolitical cooperation between the two regions. Von der Leyen highlighted the significance of the proposed FTA, acknowledging that negotiations will be challenging. However, she stressed that with the right timing and political will, both sides could aim to finalize the deal this year. The EU President assured full commitment from the European side to make this happen, emphasizing that the agreement would boost trade, investment, and economic ties significantly.
Key Focus Areas for Strengthening India-EU Relations
To elevate the India-EU partnership to new heights, von der Leyen laid down three key focus areas:
- Trade and Technology: Enhancing cooperation in high-end technology, digital innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
- Security and Defense: Strengthening security collaboration to address emerging global threats, including cross-border terrorism and cyberattacks.
- Global Partnerships: Expanding cooperation in strategic global challenges such as climate change, space security, and maritime safety.
India-EU Security and Defense Partnership
A major highlight of von der Leyen’s visit was Europe’s willingness to explore a formal security and defence partnership with India, similar to its existing agreements with Japan and South Korea. This partnership would focus on tackling critical security challenges such as:
- Countering Cross-Border Terrorism
- Cybersecurity and Preventing Cyberattacks
- Maritime Security and Indo-Pacific Stability
- Advancing Defense Technology Cooperation
With growing global uncertainties, this proposed partnership reflects the EU’s intent to engage more actively with India in shaping global security policies. Von der Leyen’s visit marks a crucial step in deepening India-EU relations. With an ambitious agenda focused on trade, security, and technology, both sides are working toward a historic Free Trade Agreement while expanding their strategic cooperation. If successful, this partnership will not only strengthen economic ties but also solidify India’s role as a key global player in defence, cybersecurity, and trade.
