At the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined forces with EU heavyweights Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen to supercharge bilateral ties. Anchored in core principles—democracy, human rights, pluralism, rule of law, and UN-led global order—the partnership is set for unprecedented heights.
The agenda was ambitious: confronting security challenges, fostering sustainable growth, enhancing economic safeguards, ramping up climate and biodiversity efforts, and accelerating SDG achievements. These commitments shone through in the comprehensive joint statement.
Marking India’s 77th Republic Day, Costa and von der Leyen led a stellar EU delegation as chief guests, including key figures like Kaja Kallas and Maros Sefcovic.
The spotlight fell on the groundbreaking India-EU Security and Defence Partnership agreement— a pioneering framework expanding collaboration in maritime domains, defence tech, cyber threats, space security, and anti-terror ops. Negotiations began on an Information Security Agreement to boost secure info sharing and defence synergy.
Pushing for UN centrality, they advocated Security Council overhaul for greater inclusivity and relevance in today’s world. Europe and Indo-Pacific security are inextricably linked, they noted, vowing a rules-based Indo-Pacific per UNCLOS, bolstered by initiatives like IPOI and IORA, and the first India-EU Indo-Pacific talks.
Ukraine’s war drew shared alarm for its human suffering and ripple effects; they backed diplomacy for enduring peace. Iran and regional flashpoints called for calm, diplomatic paths. On Gaza, UNSC Resolution 2803 was praised for peacekeeping mechanisms, with calls for compliance, aid access, and two-state resolution.
Terrorism faced zero tolerance: all manifestations, including cross-border attacks like Pahalgam (22 April 2025) and Red Fort vicinity (10 November 2025), were roundly condemned. Global unity is urged against radicalism, funding, laundering, tech abuse, and recruitment.
This Delhi rendezvous cements India-EU as strategic pillars in a volatile world, promising collaborative triumphs ahead.
