India's partnership with European Union set for upgrade

The European Union (EU), comprising 27 countries, has set out a plan to upgrade its strategic ties with India. But it also warned that India's military exercises with Russia and its purchase of Russian oil are risks to the growing strategic ties between Brussels and New Delhi.

- S VENKAT NARAYAN

The EU is India's third largest business partner.

The European Commission and the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas released 'A New Strategic EU-India Agenda' on Wednesday (September 17, 2025) in Brussels, and urged the European Parliament and Council (i.e., the heads of member states) to adopt it.

Kallas called India a "crucial" partner for the EU, as she outlined the strategy that encompassed trade, technology, security, defence and climate. She was speaking at a televised press conference in Brussels on Wednesday (September 17, 2025).

The document declared that “the EU and India have the potential and determination to shape one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.”

Brussels and New Delhi are in the midst of negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA), with the EU’s trade chief Maroš Šef?ovi? visiting New Delhi last week for talks with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

“We are also negotiating an agreement of exchange of classified information and deepening ties between defence industries,” Kallas said. There are hesitations here among the College of Commissioners (comprising Commissioners from the 27 EU countries).

With Russia escalating its attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, the Europeans are grappling with how to navigate New Delhi's closeness to Moscow.