EU and India seek closer relations in shadow of Russia

With bilateral commercialized successful goods worthy €120 billion, the EU is India's largest trading partner. There are 6,000 European companies operating successful India and to boost that relation, The European Commission  would similar to reason a Free Trade Agreement by the extremity of the year, that could importantly trim tariffs and different barriers. 

After the stroke to its trade relations with the US, pursuing the imposition of an mean tariff complaint of 15%, the EU is trying to velocity up agreements with different regions. 

"There is simply a precise analyzable geopolitical concern truthful the EU is present looking astatine India, which is the world's astir populous country. It's a rising economical superpower, and it's a large histrion successful the alleged Global South. So it fits the credentials for a caller concern to navigate unneurotic successful geopolitical turmoil," said Jorge Liboreiro, who covers EU-India relations for Euronews. 

Even so, the EU's overseas argumentation chief, Kaja Kallas, warned that India's humanities subject and economical ties with Russia request to beryllium assessed. New Delhi purchases ample quantities of weapons and lipid from Moscow, helping Russia substance its warfare system and aggression against Ukraine. 

"We cognize that India and Russia person a long-standing relationship, and I don't deliberation they tin simply chopped ties overnight," said Angelika Niebler (Germany/EPP), seat of the Delegation for Relations with India astatine the European Parliament. 

The lawmaker considers that the EU has to bash a pros and cons workout done dialogue: "I deliberation it's important for the EU to engage, to explicit our concerns, but besides effort to recognize their position and interests. Of course, aft we person to support our ain interests," she added. 

Pragmatism rules

In presumption of the ongoing geopolitical realignment, different cardinal pillar to beryllium developed is the EU-India Security and Defence Partnership. India's defence fund for 2025-2026 is €69 cardinal and its accepted supplier is Russia, which accounts for 36% of its purchases.  

However, India has been buying much from the West, peculiarly the US, Israel, the UK, France, and Germany. With ties with the US deteriorating, India sees the EU arsenic a imaginable caller focal point. 

Military proviso deals person been signed with 2 cardinal subordinate states successful 2025: France has sold 26 Rafale Marine combatant jets, valued astatine €7 billion, and Germany volition physique six Type 214 submarines with Indian partners, valued astatine €5 billion. 

"Right now, India's relations with the United States are astatine stone bottom, Donald Trump is doing immoderate helium tin to alienate New Delhi: 50% tariffs, a caller attack towards Pakistan. So India thinks that the European Union could beryllium the biggest spouse successful the West," said Jorge Liboreiro. 

But should the EU spot India arsenic a reliable state erstwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to beryllium moving person to China, historically a rival? The EU accuses China of concern overproduction, export restrictions, and criticises its enactment for Russia's warfare against Ukraine. 

MEP Niebler doesn't see India's closeness to China arsenic an impediment: "Let's absorption connected our policy. I don't privation to blasted others for doing this oregon that." 

"We indispensable instrumentality a pragmatic and realistic approach, ever focusing connected what's successful our interests, connected what strengthens the European Union," she told Euronews. 

The European Commision wants the diplomatic efforts to enactment towards an EU-India acme successful aboriginal 2026. 

Watch the video here! 

Journalist: Isabel Marques da Silva 

Content production: Pilar Montero López 

Video production: Zacharia Vigneron 

Graphism: Loredana Dumitru 

Editorial coordination: Ana Lázaro Bosch and Jeremy Fleming-Jones