European Union Vice-President Kaja Kallas has underscored what she described as “strong momentum” in the growing partnership between India and the European Union, sharing details of her first official visit to New Delhi and her participation in India’s Republic Day celebrations. In a post on social media, she said the current phase of engagement reflects a clear determination on both sides to deepen cooperation across strategic, political and economic domains.
Emphasising defence and security ties, Kallas noted that the participation of European naval personnel in the Republic Day parade was a visible and meaningful symbol of the evolving relationship. She said their presence highlighted the expanding scope of cooperation between India and the EU, particularly in areas linked to maritime security and regional stability.
Calling the moment significant, Kallas said that for the first time, personnel from the EU’s naval missions Atalanta and Aspides took part in the Republic Day parade. She described this as a milestone that reflects growing trust and coordination between the two sides. These EU naval operations are active in the Indian Ocean and nearby waters, where they focus on counter-piracy, maritime security and safeguarding key sea lanes.
Looking ahead, Kallas said the upcoming India-EU Summit would mark a decisive step in formalising defence cooperation. She announced that both sides are set to sign the EU–India Security and Defence Partnership, which is expected to translate political intent into concrete action. According to her, the agreement will deliver practical outcomes in areas such as maritime security, cybersecurity and counterterrorism, strengthening strategic coordination.
Officials familiar with the discussions said the proposed partnership would establish new institutional frameworks for regular dialogue, joint initiatives and operational cooperation, reflecting a shared interest in addressing emerging security challenges.
Kallas’s remarks came during her first official visit to India, which began on Saturday, and has been seen as an indicator of the EU’s intent to elevate its engagement with New Delhi. The visit was welcomed by India’s External Affairs Ministry, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal saying its timing reflected the accelerating pace of India-EU relations.
The ministry noted that India’s engagement with the European Union is part of its broader strategic focus on Europe, encompassing diplomacy, trade, technology, education and people-to-people ties. It highlighted that as of 2024, more than 9.31 lakh Indians were living across EU countries, including over 16,000 holders of the EU Blue Card, underscoring the depth of human connectivity.
Educational links were also emphasised, with officials pointing out that more than 6,000 Indian students have received Erasmus Mundus scholarships over the past two decades, strengthening academic collaboration and mobility between India and Europe.
Kallas’s comments also come at a critical juncture as India and the EU prepare to conclude negotiations on a long-pending free trade agreement. After years of complex and often difficult talks, both sides are expected to announce the completion of negotiations shortly.
The trade agreement is expected to reduce tariffs on European products such as automobiles and wine, while expanding market access for Indian exports including electronics, textiles and chemicals. Officials said the deal is likely to be one of the most significant outcomes of the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi.
Taken together, the push on defence cooperation, progress on trade negotiations and sustained high-level political engagement point to a broader reset in India-EU relations, signalling a new phase of partnership built around shared strategic interests and long-term collaboration.
