India and EU Schedule Signing of Security and Defence Partnership Ahead of Summit

India and the European Union have agreed to advance a new Security and Defence Partnership that is expected to be signed during the 16th India-EU Summit scheduled for 27 January in New Delhi. The announcement by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, points to a broader deepening of strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Brussels. 

The proposed agreement aims to broaden collaborative efforts across several defence and security domains, including maritime security, cyber-defence, counter-terrorism and maritime domain awareness. Officials have indicated the objective is to strengthen cooperation in response to evolving global security conditions and shared strategic interests. 

The timing of the pact coincides with the scheduled visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, who will serve as chief guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations on 26 January and co-chair the summit the following day. This reflects an elevated political engagement around the partnership and related agendas. 

Alongside defence cooperation, the EU and India are also working to advance negotiations on a free trade agreement that would expand market access and deepen economic ties. The talks, relaunched in 2022 after years of suspension, cover a wide range of trade, investment and regulatory issues and have been described by officials on both sides as nearing completion. 

The strategic partnership initiative builds on longstanding relations between India and the EU, formally established in 2004, and aligns with broader efforts by both partners to strengthen alliances amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and global security challenges.