EU unveils new strategic agenda with India, but cites Russia rider

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday unveiled a new vision for a deeper strategic relationship with India encompassing trade, technology and security even as the bloc’s foreign and security policy chief Kaja Kallas said India’s participation in military exercises with Russia and purchases of Russian oil “stand in the way of closer ties”.

- Rezaul H Laskar

The “New Strategic EU-India Agenda” was announced jointly in Brussels by the European Commission and the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Kaja Kallas. The new strategy is expected to be endorsed by the bloc’s 27 member states by the year-end so that it can be adopted at the India-EU Summit in early 2026.

The strategy identifies five areas of shared interest and complementary strengths, including trade, investment and technology, and backs the finalisation of ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA). However, Kallas said the bilateral relationship is not focused solely on trade as India’s military ties with Russia and purchases of Russian energy continue to be a factor.

“Ultimately, our partnership is not only about trade but also about defending the rules-based international order,” Kallas said while announcing the new strategy. “Participating in military exercises, purchases of oil — all these are obstacles to our cooperation when it comes to deepening the ties.”