India-Europe Trade, Technology, and Defense Cooperation Discussed in Meeting Between Foreign Minister Jaishankar and EU Commission President

India-Europe Trade, Technology, and Defense Cooperation Discussed in Meeting Between Foreign Minister Jaishankar and EU Commission President

Delhi, February 27 – India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday, who is on a two-day visit to India accompanied by a delegation of European Commissioners. During the meeting, Jaishankar praised von der Leyen's views on revitalizing India's relationship with Europe.

In a post, Jaishankar wrote, “Pleased to call on @EU_Commission President @vonderleyen today in Delhi. Appreciate her thoughts on reenergizing India’s engagement with Europe. The wide-ranging participation of Indian Ministers and EU College of Commissioners during this visit stands testimony to the importance we place on deeper India-EU ties.”

Upon her arrival in Delhi, von der Leyen was received by India’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel. In a post, she referred to India as a "trusted friend and strategic ally."

She further stated, “In an era of conflicts and intense competition, you need trusted friends. For Europe, India is such a friend and a strategic ally. I’ll discuss with @narendramodi how to take our strategic partnership to the next level.”

This marks Ursula von der Leyen's third visit to India, following her previous visits in April 2022 and to attend the G20 Summit in September 2023. Prime Minister Modi and von der Leyen have also met regularly on the sidelines of multilateral gatherings.

The European Union has recently outlined its Indo-Pacific strategy and expressed interest in deeper collaborations. During the visit, discussions may focus on formalizing agreements to enhance coordination between military forces and cooperation among naval forces.

The visit aims to strengthen and diversify India-EU relations across various sectors, including trade, investment, resilient supply chains, digital technologies, semiconductors, green hydrogen, clean energy, sustainable urbanization, water management, defense, and space.