EU Leaders' Republic Day Presence Highlights Strengthening India-Europe Alliance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, emphasizing that their attendance underscores the growing strength of the India-EU partnership and mutual commitment to shared democratic values.
Strategic Partnership in a Fractured World
The participation of EU leaders as chief guests at the parade, which featured displays of Russian weapon systems including T-90 tanks, BrahMos missiles, and S-400 air defense systems, reinforced the shared intent to deepen the strategic partnership between India and the European Union. This development comes at a time when global dynamics are increasingly fragmented, making such alliances crucial for stability.
Modi expressed on social media platform X that India is privileged to host the European leaders during Republic Day celebrations, noting that the visit will add momentum to cooperation across diverse sectors. The Prime Minister's statement highlighted the significance of this diplomatic engagement in fostering closer ties.
Upcoming Summit and Expected Outcomes
The 16th India-EU summit scheduled for Tuesday is anticipated to yield several major outcomes. Key among these are:
- A successful conclusion of ongoing trade negotiations
- The signing of what von der Leyen has described as a potentially game-changing security and defence partnership
- Between 8 to 12 agreements covering various aspects of bilateral cooperation
Von der Leyen reciprocated Modi's sentiments, stating that a successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. She emphasized that Europe and India, as the world's largest democracies, are committed to working together to shape a new global order.
Symbolic Displays and Security Cooperation
The Republic Day parade featured the display of flags from the EU, EU Military Staff, and its maritime missions ATALANTA and ASPIDES. Von der Leyen described this as a powerful symbol of deepening security cooperation between the two sides, which will culminate in the signing of the security and defence partnership during the summit.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also attended the parade, further underscoring the importance Brussels places on this relationship. In recent months, the EU has moderated its rhetoric regarding India's ties with Russia, focusing instead on forging a reliable partnership anchored in mutual respect for security concerns.
As both sides look to finalize the trade deal, there is strong momentum for closer cooperation that promises to elevate the India-EU relationship to new heights, benefiting not just the two partners but contributing to global stability and prosperity.
