HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP FORGED..! PM Modi and von der Leyen Chart Ambitious Course
Indian and EU leadership met today to turbocharge the strategic partnership between the world’s largest democracy and the European bloc, with a bold target of sealing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by year’s end.
New Delhi’s Hyderabad House hosted a landmark meeting today between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, marking a pivotal moment in India-EU relations. Von der Leyen’s visit, spanning February 27-28, was unprecedented, as she arrived with the entire EU College of Commissioners—the first such collective trip to India. The agenda? To turbocharge the strategic partnership between the world’s largest democracy and the European bloc, with a bold target of sealing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by year’s end.
Modi hailed the engagement as “historic and unparalleled,” rooted in a “natural and organic” friendship built on trust and democratic values. The two-day summit saw nearly 20 ministerial-level discussions, yielding commitments to deepen cooperation in trade, technology, and security. Key areas of focus included semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a transformative infrastructure initiative. Von der Leyen echoed Modi’s optimism, calling India a “pillar of certainty” amid global turbulence and pushing for stronger security and defense ties to counter rising geopolitical challenges.
The centerpiece of the talks was the FTA, which von der Leyen described as potentially “the largest deal of its kind globally.” With negotiations ongoing since 2007 and relaunched in 2022, both leaders expressed pragmatism in addressing sticking points like tariffs and sustainability standards. The urgency is palpable, especially with U.S. President Donald Trump’s looming tariff threats casting a shadow over global trade. Beyond economics, the leaders tackled regional issues—Ukraine, terrorism, and Indo-Pacific stability—while the second India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting advanced collaboration on digital infrastructure and clean energy.
This summit builds on prior momentum, including von der Leyen’s 2022 India visit and Modi’s recent trip to the AI Action Summit in Paris. As the EU seeks reliable partners and India asserts its global stature, the Modi-von der Leyen dialogue signals a shared resolve to navigate a shifting world order. With concrete deadlines and high stakes, 2025 could redefine India-EU ties for decades to come.
