EAM Visit to Europe

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s first official visit for 2026 began in Europe, with a visit to Paris and Luxembourg, against the backdrop of major shifts in global politics.

About

• In Paris, the Minister met his French, German and Polish counterparts for the India-Weimar Triangle meeting.  
  • The Weimar Triangle format was launched in 1991 as an initiative of Germany and it includes France and Poland.
  • It was the first time a non-European partner had been invited to the Weimar Triangle meeting format at the Foreign Minister level. 
  • India’s inclusion marks recognition of the country as a critical geopolitical actor essential to European strategic calculations.
• In the coming weeks, India is set to host several top leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and top leaders from the European Union, highlighting India’s growing engagement with Europe.
• The external affairs minister said Europe is an important player in global politics and it is necessary that India strengthens its relationship with it.

India-EU Relations 

• Political cooperation: India-EU relations date to the early 1960s, and a cooperation agreement signed in 1994 took the bilateral relationship beyond trade and economic cooperation.
  • The first India-EU Summit, in 2000, marked a landmark in the evolution of the relationship. 
  • At the 5th India-EU Summit at The Hague in 2004, the relationship was upgraded to a ‘Strategic Partnership’. 
• Economic cooperation : India’s bilateral trade in goods with the EU was USD 137.41 billion in 2023-24, making it the largest trading partner of India for goods.
  • EU is India’s largest trading partner for goods, 17% of India’s exports go to the EU and 9% of EU exports come to India.
• India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations: Its objective is to finalize a comprehensive trade agreement covering goods, services, investments, and geographical indications.
  • The EU and India are working to announce a ‘Free Trade’ Agreement (FTA) during the visit of E.U. leaders Republic Day later this month. 
• Other areas of cooperation:
  • The India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP), established in 2016, aims to enhance technological, scientific, and policy frameworks in water management.
  • In 2020, there was an agreement for research and development cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Government of India.
  • India and the EU established the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in 2023. The TTC is a forum for the two parties to collaborate on trade, technology, and security. The TTC’s goals.
• India’s Two Levels of Engagement
  • EU as a bloc: Regular summits, strategic dialogues on trade, tech, security, foreign policy.
  • Bilateral with major EU members: Deepening ties with France, Germany, Nordic and Eastern European countries.

Factors Shaping India-Europe Relations:

• Geopolitical Shifts and Strategic Autonomy: Return of war in Europe (Russia–Ukraine) and the global erosion of multilateralism.
  • Europe is seeking greater strategic autonomy from the US especially post-Trump era.
  • India aims to maintain a multipolar world order while diversifying its partnerships beyond the US, Russia, and China.
• US Uncertainty: The Trump administration’s unpredictability regarding European security commitments has forced Europe to seek alternative partnerships and alliances. India, as a stable democracy with proven reliability, becomes strategically valuable.
• Trade and Economic Cooperation: EU is one of India’s largest trade and investment partners.
  • India and EU are keen on concluding India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Investment Agreement.
  • IMEC (India–Middle East–Europe Corridor) provides opportunities for strategic connectivity and trade.
• Technology and Digital Sovereignty: Both have the shared interest in promoting digital technologies as public goods.
  • India can benefit from Europe’s strengths in deep tech, semiconductors, and digital manufacturing.
• Defence and Strategic Cooperation: Europe is a key arms supplier to India.
  • India seeks joint development, co-production, and technology transfer.
• Indo-Pacific and Maritime Strategy: Europe increasingly views the Indo-Pacific as a strategic priority.
  • India is working with France, Germany, and others to promote free and open Indo-Pacific.

Challenges in the India – EU Relations

• India’s Stand on Ukraine War: Europe expects India to be more critical of Russia; India maintains strategic neutrality.
• EU’s Stand on Pakistan and Terrorism: India expects the EU to hold Pakistan accountable for state-sponsored terrorism.
• Slow Progress on Trade Agreements: The India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations have faced multiple deadlocks.
• Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) imposed by the EU creates additional trade barriers for India.
• Human Rights and Normative Pressure: EU often adopts a prescriptive stance on India’s internal matters.
  • India views this as interference in domestic affairs, causing diplomatic friction.
• Regulatory and Standards Barriers: EU’s strict regulations on data privacy, digital taxation, environmental standards, and labour laws are hurdles for Indian exporters and tech firms.
• Media stereotypes and limited public awareness in Europe with respect to India hinder people-to-people ties.

Way Ahead

• Fast-Track Trade and Investment Agreements: EU and India must conclude the long-pending India–EU Free Trade Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement.
• Deepen Strategic and Defence Cooperation: Move beyond buyer-seller relationship to joint development and co-production of defence technologies.
• Expand Mobility and Education Partnerships: Finalise a comprehensive mobility agreement for skilled professionals, students, and researchers.
• Build Resilient Supply Chains: Diversify away from China by promoting trusted, transparent supply chains.
  • Leverage initiatives like IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor) for logistics, energy, and trade.
• Enhance People-to-People and Cultural Ties: Promote tourism, media engagement, and cultural exchanges to break stereotypes and deepen mutual understanding.

Conclusion

• The EAM’s first official visit of 2026 to Europe signals that India has made a conscious strategic choice to elevate Europe from a secondary economic and political relationship to a centerpiece of its foreign policy. 
• The FTA conclusion would create a trade corridor with deepened defense, technology, and supply chain integration. 
• The visit affirms India’s vision of a multipolar world order where emerging powers like India exercise strategic autonomy, not subordinated alignment to Western or any other bloc. 

Source: TH