New Delhi, Jan 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to Kartavya Path, highlighting the growing strength of the India-EU partnership and shared democratic values. Their presence at the Republic Day parade, which featured a display of Russian designed weapon systems, symbolised the commitment to deepening strategic ties in a complex global environment.
The 16th India-EU summit, scheduled for Tuesday, is expected to yield significant outcomes, including the conclusion of trade negotiations and the signing of a security and defence partnership described by von der Leyen as potentially “game-changing.” In total, 8–12 agreements across various sectors are anticipated during the summit.
“India is privileged to host European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during our Republic Day celebrations. Their visit will further the momentum of India-Europe cooperation across diverse fields,” Modi wrote on X.
Von der Leyen emphasised the global benefits of India’s growth, stating, “A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure.” She added that Europe and India, as the world’s largest democracies, are committed to collaborating to shape a new global order. The flags of the EU, EU Military Staff, and its maritime missions ATALANTA and ASPIDES displayed during the parade highlighted the deepening security cooperation, which will culminate in the signing of the security and defence partnership at the summit.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also attended the parade, noting strong momentum for closer India-EU cooperation. In recent months, Brussels has moderated its rhetoric on Delhi’s ties with Russia, signalling a focus on building a reliable partnership anchored in mutual respect for security concerns.