PM Modi Meets EU Chief: World's Largest Deal on Cards?
The talks, kicking off her two-day visit starting Thursday, zeroed in on sealing a free trade agreement (FTA) by year-end.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, aiming to bolster the India-EU strategic partnership. The talks, kicking off her two-day visit starting Thursday, zeroed in on sealing a free trade agreement (FTA) by year-end—a deal von der Leyen called the “largest of its kind globally” in a think-tank address earlier today.
Arriving with the EU College of Commissioners, von der Leyen’s third trip to India since 2022 underscores a push to deepen ties amid U.S.-EU tensions under President Trump. The leaders reviewed FTA negotiations, restarted in June 2022, with von der Leyen pledging “full commitment” to wrap them up in 2025, despite thorny issues like tariffs on European wine and cars. Posts on X note a bilateral cluster meeting earlier Friday tackled connectivity, the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), and security too.
India’s trade with the EU hit $135 billion in 2023-24, making it New Delhi’s top goods trading partner, per MEA data. Von der Leyen pitched the IMEC as a “modern golden road” linking India, the Gulf, and Europe, while hinting at a future security pact akin to EU deals with Japan and South Korea. The visit, flagged by ANI at 12:52 PM IST, builds on past Modi-von der Leyen summits—like the 2023 G20 meet—and sets the stage for an India-EU Summit later this year.
With global trade jitters looming, both sides see 2025 as a “historic window” to lock in this partnership, blending economic heft with shared democratic values. A joint statement’s expected soon, detailing next steps.
