New Delhi, Jan 24 (.) European union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arrived in New Delhi on Saturday on her first official visit to India, as Brussels and New Delhi move to deepen cooperation on security, trade and defence.
Welcoming her visit, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it comes at an opportune moment to further strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership, building on the momentum of regular high-level engagements.
“A warm welcome to EU HRVP kajakallas on her first official visit to India as the EU High Representative/Vice-President. The visit comes at an opportune moment to further strengthen the India–EU Strategic Partnership, building on the momentum of regular high-level engagements,” he posted on X.
India and the European union are on the cusp of what’s being called the “mother of all deals”, a historic trade agreement that would create a massive market of 2 billion people, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum, von der Leyen emphasised that the new deal will involve almost a quarter of the global GDP, putting both India and the EU as prominent players of the 21st century.
Speaking in the European Parliament a few days earlier, Kallas said Europe is ready to advance a new agenda with India and announced that the EU has agreed to move forward with the signing of a new Security and Defence Partnership.
European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be the Chief Guests at India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2026.
The two leaders will be on a State Visit to India from January 25–27, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and will co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27.
During the visit, they are expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi. An India-EU Business Forum is also likely to be held on the sidelines of the summit.
India and the European union have been strategic partners since 2004. The last India-EU Summit was held virtually in July 2020, with ties deepening significantly following the visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February 2025.
The EU is already one of India’s largest trading partners, and India is becoming indispensable to Europe’s economic resilience. The EU-India Trade and Technology Council is shaping cooperation on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure.
The 15th India-EU Summit was held virtually on 15 July 2020. Bilateral ties have expanded and deepened across a wide range of areas, particularly following the historic visit of EU College of Commissioners to India in February 2025.
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