EU deepens security ties with India, says Kallas at Munich

At the Munich Security Conference 2026, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc is stepping up its global role by forging deeper security and defence partnerships, including with India, as Europe seeks to reclaim its agency in a more volatile world.

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Speaking ahead of a panel titled “Europeans Assemble! Reclaiming Agency in a Rougher World” on the conference's final day, Kallas said the EU was evolving from a traditional trade power into a more decisive security actor. The bloc has built the world’s largest free trade network, with nearly 80 countries covered by EU trade agreements, she noted.

“On top of trade, we are creating partnerships on security and defence — 10 so far, including India and Australia this year alone,” she said, underlining efforts to diversify alliances amid growing risks ranging from tariffs and digital threats to semiconductor supply chains.