The European Union has reached an understanding with India to move forward with the signing of a new security and defence partnership, as Brussels seeks to significantly deepen strategic engagement with New Delhi ahead of a high-level summit scheduled for next week. Alongside this, both sides are also expected to announce major progress toward finalising a long-negotiated free trade agreement, underlining the growing breadth of their relationship.
Addressing the European Parliament on Wednesday, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said the proposed security and defence partnership would be embedded within a wider strategic framework that has been prepared for adoption at the upcoming EU–India summit in New Delhi. She described the moment as one of renewed momentum, driven by a shared desire to translate political alignment into tangible outcomes.
Kallas noted that in just a few days, leaders from the European Union and India would come together in New Delhi for talks that are expected to mark a turning point in bilateral ties. She characterised the summit as a pivotal opportunity, emphasising that both sides now share a clear sense of direction and ambition in shaping their future partnership.
The summit will also mark the 60th EU–India summit, during which leaders are expected to formally adopt a comprehensive strategic agenda extending through 2030. This long-term roadmap is intended to guide cooperation across multiple domains and provide continuity and structure to the partnership over the remainder of the decade.
According to Kallas, negotiations on both the joint summit statement and the new strategic agenda were conducted with a strong sense of urgency and mutual understanding. She said there was a shared recognition in Brussels and New Delhi that the summit must deliver concrete results rather than symbolic commitments.
Describing the EU and India as two major democracies with global responsibilities, Kallas said neither side could afford indecision in the current international environment. She argued that the partnership must become more ambitious, as both share an interest in upholding international law, defending the principles of the United Nations Charter, and supporting a multilateral system capable of addressing 21st-century challenges.
At the core of the summit agenda will be a set of practical deliverables designed to turn political intent into action. Kallas outlined three key pillars of focus, beginning with trade and economic cooperation, which she said would be central to strengthening the overall relationship.
On trade, Kallas said both sides are aiming to conclude negotiations on the EU–India free trade agreement. She described the proposed pact as a critical tool for opening markets, dismantling regulatory and tariff barriers, and reinforcing supply chains, particularly in strategic sectors such as clean technologies, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.
Security and defence cooperation is set to feature prominently as well. Kallas confirmed that the EU and India have agreed to move ahead with the signing of a dedicated security and defence partnership that will expand collaboration in areas such as maritime security, cyber-defence and counter-terrorism. She added that talks are also progressing on a security-of-information agreement to facilitate deeper operational cooperation.
The third major pillar of the new agenda is mobility. Kallas said the EU and India intend to finalise a memorandum of understanding that would make it easier for seasonal workers, students, researchers and highly skilled professionals to move between the two sides, while also strengthening innovation, research and academic exchanges.
She highlighted that the European Union already ranks among India’s largest trading partners and said India is increasingly becoming indispensable to Europe’s long-term economic resilience, particularly as global supply chains are being reconfigured.
The potential free trade agreement, she stressed, would be of enormous scale and significance. By linking one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies with a 27-nation bloc that remains a central force in global trade, the deal could reshape supply chains at a time when governments worldwide are reassessing economic dependencies.
For Brussels, India is increasingly viewed as a crucial partner as the EU seeks to reduce overreliance on China and diversify strategic economic links with trusted partners. For New Delhi, deeper access to the vast European market offers an opportunity to expand exports, attract investment and support its ambitions to move up the global manufacturing and technology value chain.
