European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday as tensions rise between the EU and the United States, such as trade, tariffs and various positions in the Russian-Ukrainian dispute. Von der Leyen said ahead of bilateral talks with PM Modi that India is working to diversify its military supply and gain new capabilities. She said the EU and India can help each other achieve their security goals. She also added that India and the EU may close their trade agreement by the end of 2025.
In a keynote speech by the think tank, von der Leyen announced that the EU is exploring future “security and defense partnerships” with regulations concluded with India and Japan and South Korea.
Top European leaders explain how the world is full of “danger” and the modern version of the strong competition is an opportunity for Europe and India to “reimagine” their partnership.
“We have done a lot together over the last 30 years. But in reality, we are just scratching the surface of potential. So, this is not the time to limit our cooperation.”
She said before her talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “It’s time to be pragmatic and ambitious.
Von der Leyen, accompanied by the European Commission or the group’s senior political leaders, began a two-day high-profile visit to India on Thursday.
The head of the European Commission said that the EU and India could become one of the decisive partnerships of this century, and New Delhi would be the cornerstone of European foreign policy in the coming years and decades.
“I hope this visit is the beginning of this new era. Prime Minister Modi and I have the same view. It is time to take our EU-India strategic partnership to the next level. For our security and prosperity.
“For the common global challenges we face, and the interests of our respective regions and partners around the world,” she said.
The President of the European Commission said that cooperation between trade and technology, security and defense, as well as connectivity and global partnerships could take EU-India’s partnership to a new level.
Regarding the free trade agreement, Von der Leyen said she has a full commitment to it.
“A free trade agreement between the EU and India will be the biggest deal anywhere in the world. I know it’s not easy. But I also know that timing and determination matter and that this partnership comes at the right time for both of us.”
“That’s why we have reached a consensus with Prime Minister Modi to achieve this this year. You can rely on my full commitment to make sure we can deliver it.”
The President of the European Commission also reiterated Europe’s position in Ukraine. She said Ukraine’s failed Ukraine will also exacerbate challenges in other parts of the world, especially in the region.
“If you invade your neighbors or violate international borders, or if there is a real deterrence, the rest of the world is paying close attention to whether there is impunity,” she said.
The European Commission President said in terms of connectivity that the Central India European Corridor could be a modern golden road that directly connects India, the Arabian Gulf and Europe.
She said I believe 2025 is a historic opportunity to build an inseparable partnership between Europe and India.
In the proposed EU Security and Defense Partnership in India, von Leyen said this will help us strengthen “our work to address cross-border terrorism, maritime security threats, cyber attacks, or attacks on new phenomena we see: attacks on our critical infrastructure”. There are a lot we can build, she said.
She added: “For example, recent cooperation on maritime security. I am pleased that India is interested in joining the EU’s permanent structural cooperation in defense industry projects.”
(with PTI input)
