European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared Friday that India and the EU are gunning to seal a blockbuster free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025, calling it potentially the world’s biggest deal of its kind. Speaking at a think-tank event ahead of talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she also floated the idea of a future security and defence pact, mirroring EU ties with Japan and South Korea.

Von der Leyen framed the push as a chance to turbocharge the EU-India partnership amid a tense global landscape. “This era of great power rivalry is an opportunity for us to rethink how we work together,” she said. “The EU and India are in a unique spot to tackle this head-on.” She urged a bold, practical approach, stressing trade, tech, security, and connectivity as key pillars to lift ties to new heights.

On the FTA, she didn’t sugarcoat the challenge. “It won’t be simple,” she admitted, “but the timing’s right, and I’m all in to get it done this year with PM Modi.” If successful, it’d dwarf other trade pacts, linking the 27-nation EU bloc with India’s massive market. Posts on X echo her resolve, with users noting March talks in Brussels as a next step, though hurdles like tariffs on cars and wines linger.

She also pitched the India-Middle East-Europe corridor as a “modern golden road” to bind India, the Gulf, and Europe. “2025 could be a historic moment for an unbreakable EU-India bond,” she said, upbeat despite tricky regional disagreements. As Modi preps to host her, the stakes—and ambitions—are sky-high.