How India and Europe enter a new era of deals, diplomacy and convergence

For this analysis, Europe signifies the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK). In the past six months – from October 2025 to March 2026 – the India-Europe relationship has witnessed major advances, turning it into ‘a most happening partnership’ from both the Indian and European perspectives. The easiest explanation behind expanded exchanges lies in the two sides’ deep disenchantment with their respective equations with the United States, but that is not the full story. Indo-European proximity has deepened due to a growing appreciation of mutual importance and a new belief that this strengthened partnership could contribute to real multipolarity in the long term.

But first, let us recall and analyse the major developments in this relationship since October 2025.

The Big Four

Four major visits to India brought this partnership into sharp limelight.

First, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer kicked off the process by visiting India from October 8-9 last year, ie, within a few weeks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK in July 2025, when the historic India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed. At that time, they also adopted the India-UK Vision 2035 and a Defence Industrial Roadmap.

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Starmer arrived with a 135-member business delegation and landed in Mumbai – India’s business capital – to signal his priority of deepening the economic partnership. The two prime ministers addressed the global Fintech Fest to underscore the significance of technological collaboration in this partnership. Several concrete steps were announced as part of the landmark Technology Security Initiative (TSI).

Two other features of the visit deserve a mention. One, defence and security cooperation received priority, with PM Modi welcoming the port call of the UK’s carrier strike group and the Royal Navy’s exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy. Two, confirmation emerged of the opening of several British university campuses in India.

Second, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited India from January 12 to 13, 2026, covering Ahmedabad and Bengaluru and holding discussions with PM Modi and business and technology leaders. Trade, technology, and defence cooperation defined the contours of this significant visit. Bilateral trade with Germany surpassed $50 billion in 2024, representing over 25 per cent of India’s trade with the EU, and is set to increase further. Much attention was also paid to expanding links relating to technology, innovation, science, and research, including a shared willingness to launch an institutional dialogue on the semiconductor value chain. The opening of a Global Capability Centre GCC by a German technology enterprise in GIFT City last March was welcomed by Modi.

Third, the top EU duo, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Council President António Costa, visited India from January 25 to 27. They were the Guests of Honour at India’s 77th Republic Day, and they, together with PM Modi, participated in the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi. The visit was undoubtedly the centrepiece of India-Europe interaction in the past six months.

Announcement of the successful conclusion of negotiations for the historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) set the stage for a productive visit. The FTA will come into effect by the end of 2026. Another key outcome was the signing of the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership. It is designed to deepen cooperation in diverse domains, such as maritime security, defence industry and technology, cyber and hybrid threats, space, and counter-terrorism. The two sides are also negotiating a security-of-information agreement to facilitate the exchange of classified information.

As the joint statement of January 27 put it, the visit symbolised “the growing closeness, depth and dynamism of India-EU relations and their joint commitment and shared interest in shaping a resilient multipolar global order”. Their joint comprehensive strategic agenda for 2030 is expected to accelerate progress across “five key pillars”: prosperity and sustainability; technology and innovation; security and defence; connectivity and global challenges; and a mix of enabling factors such as skills, mobility, business, and people-to-people ties.

Fourth, French President Emmanuel Macron paid a state visit to India from 17 to 19 February, starting in Mumbai and ending in New Delhi. This was his fourth visit to the country. In addition to holding bilateral discussions, he participated in the AI Impact Summit. The decision to elevate the relationship to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership” showed the growing ambitions and vision of the two sides on India-France ties.

On defence cooperation, increased focus has been placed on “co-design, co-development, and co-production” of defence platforms, as the joint statement confirmed. In this domain, as well as space and nuclear energy, France remains one of India’s foremost partners. Other areas of interest and activity have been artificial intelligence, innovation, digital and cyberspace, clean energy, health, and culture. President Macron’s invitation to Modi to participate in the G7 summit later in 2026 was appreciated.

Other Dimensions

Three other developments confirmed progress in India-European ties.

One, the AI Impact Summit saw a strong representation from the EU. Eleven European delegations were led by heads of government, while 26 European nations in all participated in the summit, in a clear confirmation that AI offered considerable scope for future cooperation.

Two, the president of Finland, Alexander Stubb, visited India from March 4-7. His role as the chief guest at the Raina Dialogue drew much interest. In his keynote speech at the forum, he rejected the idea that the future belonged to only two powers (presumably the US and China). He made a compelling case for a multipolar order, for reform of multilateral institutions, and for a dignified foreign policy that creates a congenial atmosphere for dialogue and engagement. His generous praise for India’s foreign policy approach won him widespread appreciation from the host side.

Three, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Brussels from 15-16 March provided an appropriate occasion to take stock of the recent positive developments and chart a course for future action. Apart from meeting the top EU leaders, he interacted with the EU Foreign Affairs Council, comprising the foreign ministers of all EU member states. He urged them “to realise synergies between India’s relations with the European Union and with member states", as the Ministry of External Affairs disclosed, adding that “it was a sentiment that was fully reciprocated by his European counterparts".

Prospects

India-EU relations have come a long way from June 2022, when the European leaders and media were busy criticising India over its perceived weak response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. This compelled Minister Jaishankar to make several sharp remarks against the European side. He famously stated, “Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe’s problems are the world's problems, but the world's problems are not Europe’s problems.” Speaking in New Delhi, President Stubb said he agreed with the Indian foreign minister.

Differences between India and Europe over Ukraine, China, the Middle East, and a few other issues have not disappeared. Still, the realisation that mutual interests will be better served by focusing on points of convergence has now set in. The leaders on both sides feel that a stronger partnership is for mutual benefit and for global good. That the policies of Trump 2.0 have contributed to and accelerated this welcome trend is widely believed. However, in fact, a complex combination of economic, political, and geopolitical factors has contributed to this outcome.

Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) scholar Constantino Xavier aptly depicts it as “a strategic inflexion point” that could turn India-EU ties into “one of the most consequential partnerships” in the future.

(Rajiv Bhatia is a Distinguished Fellow at Gateway House, Mumbai, and a former High Commissioner to Kenya and South Africa, and Ambassador to Myanmar and Mexico. He also served as the Consul General in Toronto. He is the author of three books on Indian foreign policy, and is a regular columnist on geopolitical affairs. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.)