India and the European Union (EU) are set to formalise a significant Security and Defence Partnership during the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi next week, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas has announced. The agreement, approved by the EU and India, is expected to be signed when top EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, visit India as chief guests for key diplomatic engagements.
According to statements in the European Parliament, the partnership will broaden bilateral cooperation in maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and other critical defence areas, reflecting deepening strategic ties between the two major democratic partners amid evolving global security challenges.
The agreement forms part of a comprehensive strategic agenda that also includes discussions on a free trade agreement (FTA), research and innovation cooperation, and mobility frameworks to facilitate movement for students, professionals and researchers between India and EU member states.
The signing is anticipated to further strengthen India–EU relations, enhance defence industrial cooperation and contribute to regional and global stability through closer strategic alignment.
