EU to Sign Security and Defence Pact with India

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Brussels: The European Union has confirmed plans to move forward with a new security and defence partnership with India, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday, signalling a significant upgrade in strategic cooperation between Brussels and New Delhi ahead of a major summit scheduled next week.

 Speaking to lawmakers in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Kallas said the EU and India have agreed to proceed with the signature of the pact, which is expected to be finalised during the forthcoming EU-India Summit in New Delhi. The announcement marks a deepening of ties aimed at addressing shared security challenges and advancing bilateral collaboration on strategic issues.

 The proposed security and defence partnership will broaden cooperation in key areas of geopolitical importance. According to Kallas, the pact is designed to enhance collaboration on:

• Maritime security, safeguarding key sea-lanes and regional stability.
• Cybersecurity, including cooperation to deter and respond to digital threats.
• Counter-terrorism efforts and coordinated responses to transnational challenges.
• Potential agreements on secure information sharing and intelligence cooperation.

 Kallas described the move as part of a “powerful new agenda” between the EU and India, reflecting shared concerns about a global landscape marked by rising security risks, geopolitical fragmentation, and stresses on international norms. She said these democracies among the world’s largest have a mutual interest in upholding a rules-based international order.

 The strategic push towards enhanced defence ties comes as the EU and India prepare to adopt a comprehensive EU-India strategic agenda running through 2030 at their summit next week. This agenda not only covers security and defence but also lays the groundwork for cooperation on trade, mobility, technology, and investment.

 Parallel to the security pact, EU leaders have been progressing toward a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated could be concluded soon, potentially creating one of the world’s largest trade partnerships spanning nearly 2 billion people and a significant share of global economic output.

 Beyond formal agreements, cooperation between the EU and India has already expanded in practice. Earlier joint work has included counter-terrorism training focused on threats from drones and unmanned systems, highlighting tangible defensive collaboration on emerging security challenges.

 For the EU, closer security ties with India align with ongoing efforts to diversify strategic partnerships beyond traditional alliances and to strengthen its own geopolitical reach. For India, the agreement offers expanded access to European expertise and support in areas such as defence technology, cybersecurity, and shared maritime interests.

 The move also reflects a broader shift in Europe’s foreign policy, as articulated in the EU’s new Strategic Agenda a directive to reinforce partnerships with like-minded democracies in a world undergoing geopolitical upheaval due to military conflicts and economic tensions.