India aims to form alliances in Europe to further its interests in trade, investment, defense, and environmental sustainability. While many economic decisions are made at the European Union level, maintaining strong bilateral relationships with individual member states remains crucial. This was highlighted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visits to France and Slovakia.
The relationship between India and the EU has been gaining momentum since the completion of negotiations on the bilateral trade agreement and the establishment of a dedicated Security and Defense Partnership. PM Modi’s trips to Slovakia and France mark the latest engagements in a series of high-level interactions between India and Europe. These visits underscore the increasing momentum in India’s connections with Europe, as evidenced by the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo.
Recent engagements between India and Europe, including visits by the Presidents of Finland and Cyprus and the Austrian Chancellor to India, have led to the formation of three new strategic partnerships with the Netherlands, Sweden, and Cyprus. Additionally, there have been advancements in bilateral ties, such as a Special Strategic Partnership with Italy, a Green Strategic Partnership with Norway, and a Comprehensive Partnership with Slovakia.
“In the evolving global geopolitical landscape and changing political dynamics in Europe, India is actively seeking partnerships across the continent to promote its interests in various sectors. New Delhi’s engagement strategy with Europe is becoming clearer, reflecting a deeper understanding of the EU’s functioning and the distribution of competencies between the Union and its member states,” noted Gulshan Sachdeva, a Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
PM Modi’s recent two-nation visit from June 13-18 included attending the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Evian, holding talks with President Emmanuel Macron in France, and participating in various programs focused on innovation and technology. The visit emphasized India’s innovation ecosystem, startups, and technological capabilities, as well as the country’s efforts to strengthen technology partnerships with European nations.
