The President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her visit to India. The meeting focused on cooperation in security and trade, with special attention on concluding a free trade agreement between both parties.
The meeting took place past midday in India and both leaders are expected to provide a joint statement to the press. Von der Leyen expressed that the priority of her visit is to elevate the strategic partnership between the European Union and India to the next level, emphasizing the potential to be one of the key alliances in the current century.
During the event in New Delhi, Von der Leyen mentioned that an agreement has been reached with Modi to push for the free trade agreement to be a reality this year, following the resumption of negotiations in 2022 after a nearly decade-long hiatus.
In addition to trade, security was another important topic on the EC President's agenda. Von der Leyen expressed her interest in exploring a security and defense partnership with India, similar to those that the EU has with other Asian countries like Japan and South Korea. This would encompass issues such as terrorism, maritime security, and cyberattacks.
Highlighting the EU's role as India's main trading partner, Von der Leyen mentioned that neither the United States nor China matches the figures of the community market. In the context of redefining global alliances, the President emphasized the importance of strengthening economic security through agreements like the one they are seeking with India.
During the visit, Von der Leyen was accompanied by her College of Commissioners, who also held meetings with Indian authorities to strengthen cooperation between both parties.
