India–EU Relations Enter a New Phase as Top European Leaders Visit New Delhi for Republic Day and Strategic Summit
India and the European Union are set to deepen their strategic partnership as European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive in India for a three-day state visit from January 25 to 27. Marking the significance of this engagement, both leaders will attend India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guests—an honor that underscores the growing importance of India–EU ties on the global stage.
The visit goes beyond ceremonial symbolism. On January 27, the two European leaders will co-chair the 16th India–European Union Summit, a key platform for advancing political, economic, and strategic cooperation. During their stay, they are also scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu and hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussions expected to chart the future direction of the partnership.
Alongside the summit, an India–EU Trade Forum is also likely to be convened, highlighting the central role of economic engagement in the relationship. India and the European Union have been strategic partners since 2004, and over the past two decades, their cooperation has steadily expanded across trade, technology, climate action, connectivity, and global governance.
The previous, 15th India–EU Summit was held virtually on July 15, 2020, amid the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, bilateral engagement has gained renewed momentum. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, ties have significantly broadened and deepened following the historic visit of the European Commission’s College of Commissioners to India in February this year—a rare and high-level diplomatic outreach that signaled Europe’s intent to strengthen its partnership with New Delhi.
The Ministry further emphasized that the participation of EU leaders as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations, combined with the 16th India–EU Summit, is expected to give fresh impetus to the strategic partnership. It will also help advance cooperation in priority areas of mutual interest, ranging from trade and investment to digital innovation, sustainable development, and global security challenges.
President Costa and President von der Leyen are visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their visit comes at a particularly crucial juncture, as negotiations between India and the European Union for a long-pending Free Trade Agreement have entered an advanced stage. Progress on this front could significantly reshape economic relations between the two sides, unlocking new opportunities for businesses, supply chains, and investment flows.
Taken together, the Republic Day participation, the high-level summit, and the ongoing trade negotiations reflect a shared recognition in New Delhi and Brussels that India–EU relations are no longer peripheral but central to shaping a stable, multipolar global order. As both sides navigate a world marked by geopolitical uncertainty and economic realignments, this visit signals a clear intent to move from cooperation to deeper strategic convergence.