New Delhi (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with her team arrived in India on an unprecedented visit, seeking to enlarge commercial and diplomatic relations and hedge against souring ties with the US.
Von der Leyen and her college of commissioners are to engage in talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government in New Delhi as part of the two-day visit.
“In this era of multiplying conflicts and intense geostrategic competition, Europe wants to strengthen its partnership with India, one of its most trusted friends,”
Von der Leyen stated in an interview.
“There is a great, positive momentum in our relations. Together, we can drive forward trade, economic security, and resilient supply chains.”
“We aim to advance discussions on a free trade agreement, expand cooperation on digital technologies, particularly AI, and accelerate our work on clean technologies like electric vehicles and green hydrogen,”
She also said.
EU Commission President is expected to hold talks with India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, before sitting down with PM Mod, with a raft of issues from artificial intelligence to energy to be concerned.
The majority of the European Union’s 26 commissioners are to join von der Leyen in what the EU Commission president is billing as the first visit of its type to the South Asian country– and the first outside Europe for the new college appointed in December.
📍Touchdown in Delhi with my team of Commissioners.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 27, 2025
In an era of conflicts and intense competition, you need trusted friends.
For Europe, India is such a friend and a strategic ally.
I’ll discuss with @narendramodi how to take our strategic partnership to the next level. pic.twitter.com/I8ypHtwfy8
Why is the EU seeking closer ties with India now?
According to experts, the EU has been working to widen its horizons since US President Donald Trump succeeded back the White House in November and undercut European partners by launching a UkPutin signals willingness for talks with Trump over Ukraineraine discussion with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. India has long followed a policy of strategic independence in foreign affairs.
Since it has historically been close to Russia, its traditional provider of military hardware, it has opposed Western pressure to alienate itself from Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.
The trip
“will send the message that Europe is shoring up other partners, including India, as much as they focus on the task of resetting EU-India ties,”
The Hindu newspaper wrote.
How did von der Leyen’s 2022 visit shape EU-India ties?
Earlier in 2022, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, traveled to India. It was her first trip to India since assuming the European Commission office. President von der Leyen was forthcoming as Raisina Dialogue 2022 chief guest. She referred to the vast potential of the strategic relationship between the EU and India and gave the EU perspective on geopolitical issues in the current time.
In her visit, she met the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
