NEW DELHI: India and the European Union are reshaping their relationship. Not through trade alone, but through security.
At the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi on Tuesday, both sides unveiled a wide-ranging Security and Defence Partnership. The shift underlines a broader change in priorities, as security concerns begin to outweigh purely economic interests in an unstable world.
The agreement focuses on intelligence sharing, defence manufacturing, maritime safety, and cooperation in emerging domains like space and cyber. Officials say it marks a move from dialogue to operational collaboration.
A key pillar of the partnership is maritime security, with a sharp focus on the Indo-Pacific. India and EU forces are already working together on anti-piracy patrols in the Red Sea alongside the EU Naval Task Force.
Counter-terrorism cooperation is being expanded. So is collaboration on cybersecurity, non-proliferation, space security, and responses to hybrid threats.
Defence industrial ties are also being strengthened. Indian manufacturers are partnering with major European firms, including Airbus, Dassault, and Rheinmetall.
Former Indian Ambassador to the EU Bhaswati Mukherjee said the shift reflects a broader change in Europe’s strategic thinking.
“The European Union now regards India as a valuable ally in the new world order or disorder which has come about,” she said.
Mukherjee noted that Europe’s long-standing reliance on soft power is giving way to a renewed military focus, with India rising as both a supplier and collaborator in defence technology.
Another important step is intelligence cooperation. The EU plans to advance a Security of Information Agreement with India. This would allow the sharing of classified information and could pave the way for India’s participation in EU-led security initiatives.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the outcome “heralds a new chapter in EU-India relations,” spanning innovation, technology, security, and connectivity.
The security push comes as global fault lines deepen. Russia’s war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and concerns over Indo-Pacific stability have accelerated the need for trusted strategic partners.
Agencies