Marking a new high in bilateral diplomacy, EU heavyweights Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen will be chief guests at India’s 77th Republic Day parade. Their three-day official visit from January 25-27 follows PM Modi’s invite, as revealed by the Foreign Office on Thursday.
The agenda features joint leadership of the 16th India-EU Summit on the 27th, audiences with President Murmu, and multi-format engagements with PM Modi. A prospective India-EU Business Roundtable adds commercial heft to proceedings.
Rooted in a 2004 strategic pact, India-EU relations surged after the 2022 online summit and the EU Commission’s transformative India trip in early 2025, spanning diverse sectors.
The Foreign Secretary noted that EU leaders’ Republic Day involvement and summit will fortify the partnership, advancing joint initiatives in vital domains. On trade, optimism surrounds an impending FTA. January 10 communiques renewed vows to settle disputes constructively for a balanced outcome.
Per Commerce Ministry, ministerial conclaves emphasized finalizing a fair, forward-looking FTA attuned to shared priorities and rule-based commerce. Goyal’s pivotal Brussels visit featured candid talks with Sefcovic on economic safeguards, tasking teams with rapid resolution.
The intensive Brussels exchanges laid bare potent political momentum toward a comprehensive pact. As India unfurls its tricolor, this European embrace signals strategic alignment: countering uncertainties through trade pacts, green transitions, and tech alliances. The visit promises not just ceremonial splendor but actionable blueprints for enduring prosperity.