India, EU to Sign Security, Defence Partnership Next Week

• India and the EU will sign a new security and defence partnership during next week’s India–EU Summit
• EU leaders visiting for Republic Day will also discuss a 2030 strategic agenda and progress on a free trade agreement
• A mobility framework MoU will facilitate movement of students, researchers, and skilled professionals

India and the European Union made a pact recently, to the effect of entering into a new Security and Defence Partnership involving the areas of maritime security, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism, Kaja Kallas, the high-ranking official of the EU's foreign policy, made this announcement.

The signing of the partnership is planned to be done in the next week on the occasion of the visit to India by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa, who will be present at the Republic Day celebrations as chief guests.

The leaders who are visiting will also be co-chairs of the 16th India–EU Summit together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The preparations for the visit are going on smoothly but Ms. Kallas admitted there have been some challenges during the process.

One of the topics that the summit will cover will be related to the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement and the negotiations that are to be resumed as the agreement is still in the drafting stages.

In Strasbourg, Kallas proclaimed before the Parliament members that a new extensive strategic agenda will be adopted between India and the EU the following week, relying on a 2030 time frame.

The official noted that the EU is one of the biggest trading partners of India and called India "harbinger" of European economic resilience. She spoke of the joint agenda and summit statement as having been prepared with the realization that the meeting should produce solid results in a difficult geopolitical context.

Also Read: India, EU Launch Security & Defence Partnership, Trade Deal

The defence collaboration is one of the numerous areas where the two partners are working together; their next step is a Security of Information Agreement that will be an indication of the mutual necessity of getting closer in an insecure world.

“[The] E.U. and India are moving closer together at a time when the rules-based international order is under unprecedented pressure through wars, coercion, and economic fragmentation", she stated.

Kallas pointed out that the two great democracies have to raise their aspirations during the global uncertainties including the endless Russia-Ukraine conflict and the cooling of the U.S.-Europe relations.

Besides that, the EU and India will also be signing a Memorandum of Understanding on a comprehensive mobility framework that will allow the free circulation of students, researchers, temporary workers, and highly skilled professionals between the two parties, and foster collaboration in research and innovation.

“In the Indo-Pacific and beyond, Europe and India can help anchor stability by defending open sea lanes, strengthening maritime domain awareness and resisting coercion in all of its forms”, Kallas added.