India’s Europe Outreach
As India prepares for a summer of intense global diplomacy, Europe is the hot destination for sure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to and from the G7 Summit in Canada later this month is likely to include strategic stopovers in Cyprus and Croatia. Bilateral meetings in these two countries are being planned in what is India’s outreach to Europe.
On his way to the G7 summit in Canada’s Alberta, Modi is expected to visit Cyprus. That will be a message of sorts to Turkey that chose to side with Pakistan during the recent Operation Sindoor. Modi’s return trip from Canada will include a stopover in Croatia.
Both Cyprus and Croatia are part of New Delhi’s effort to deepen ties with key European partners.
At the G7 summit scheduled in Canada on June 17, PM Modi is set to join leaders from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the United States and Canada. There will be representatives from the European Union and other invited partners such as Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and Ukraine. The outreach session will focus on economic resilience, energy security and the evolving global security landscape.
Jaishankar’s Europe Tour Sets The Stage
Laying the diplomatic groundwork for these engagements, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar embarked on a week-long visit to France and Belgium on June 8. His trip is part of India’s broader effort to intensify its strategic engagement with European partners ahead of both the G7 and the BRICS summit which in slated for Brazil next month.
This is Jaishankar’s third trip to Europe in recent months. It comes close on the heels of Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-terrorism operation following the Pahalgam terror attack. Rallying international support against terrorism remains a top priority on his agenda.
In Paris, Jaishankar is holding bilateral talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and is also scheduled to address the inaugural Mediterranean Raisina Dialogue in Marseille. The port city is one of the European terminals under consideration for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) — a project of strategic significance that India continues to pursue despite regional instability.
High-Level Engagements In Brussels
Jaishankar will also travel to Brussels to lead the India-EU Strategic Dialogue alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. He will also meet Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot.
Discussions are expected to cover the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, cooperation on counter-terrorism and India’s request for the extradition of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi.
The visit is seen as critical to bolstering India-EU trade talks, which both sides aim to conclude by the end of 2025, and in reinforcing India’s position as a reliable partner amid shifting geopolitical alignments.
Building Towards A Global Presence
Jaishankar’s engagements in Europe are not only aligned with immediate diplomatic priorities but are also part of broader planning for upcoming global forums.
Following the G7 summit, attention will quickly shift to the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 5-6, where Modi is expected to participate and Jaishankar may also be present. Jaishankar is additionally due to travel to Washington for a Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in early July.
