Prime Minister’s Visit to Netherlands

Context

• PM Modi paid an official visit to the Netherlands.

Major Outcomes of the Visit

• Elevation to Strategic Partnership: India and the Netherlands upgraded bilateral relations to a “Strategic Partnership”.
• Semiconductor Cooperation: An MoU was signed between Tata Electronics and ASML.
  • ASML will supply advanced lithography systems for Tata’s semiconductor fabrication plant in Dholera, Gujarat.
• Cultural Cooperation: Leiden University restituted 11th-century Chola-era copper plates to India.
• Defense Cooperation: Both countries signed a Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation to pave the way for a Defense Industrial Roadmap, joint manufacturing, and structured tri-services military interactions.
• Both countries adopted a Memorandum of Cooperation between Eindhoven University of Technology and University of Twente and six Indian leading Technical Institutes (IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Guwahati and IIT Madras) for a brain bridge in semiconductors and related technologies.

Brief on India- Netherlands Relations

• Diplomatic relations: India and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations in 1947, with 2026 marking 79 years of bilateral diplomatic ties.
• Economic Cooperation: India and the Netherlands formalized the Joint Trade & Investment Committee (JTIC) in 2025, strengthening bilateral trade, two-way investment cooperation, and collaboration in technology, MSMEs, and emerging sectors.
  • The Netherlands is the 4th largest investor in India with an FDI inflow of US$ 54.94 billion (2000- 2025).
  • Bilateral trade between India-Netherlands reached at US$ 16.75 billion in FY26 (till November 2025).
  • India’s exports to the Netherlands stood at US$ 22.76 billion in FY25 and around US$ 12.82 billion in FY26.
• Technology Cooperation: India and the Netherlands cooperate in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, maritime security, green hydrogen, and renewable energy.
• Cultural Cooperation: India and the Netherlands signed an MoU in 2025 for cooperation in the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat.
• Diaspora: The Netherlands is home to the largest number of Indian origin people in mainland Europe, including around 200,000 members of the Surinami-Hindustani community.

Concerns in relations

• Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten stated that the Netherlands and several European Union countries were concerned about developments in India relating to;
  • Press freedom,
  • Rights of minorities, especially Muslims and smaller communities,
  • Democratic values and rule of law.
• Insiya Hemani Case: The prolonged delay in resolving the custody dispute has emerged as a sensitive diplomatic issue between India and the Netherlands.
  • The case has raised concerns in the Netherlands regarding international child custody enforcement and legal cooperation with India.

Way Ahead

• India and the Netherlands should build upon the newly established Strategic Partnership to deepen cooperation in trade, technology, clean energy, maritime security, and innovation.
• Continued high-level political engagement and institutional dialogue can facilitate greater mutual understanding on bilateral and global issues.
• Expanding academic exchanges, cultural cooperation, and people-to-people ties can contribute to long-term strategic convergence between the two countries.

Source: TOI