Two key takeaways from the India-Europe discussions that wound up in Delhi on Friday … one is Europe’s push for greater defence and security cooperation with India along with the focus on the Indo-Pacific … and the other is working together in third countries in Africa.
First defence and security … note European Union President Ursula Van Der Layen’s unambiguous choice of words …
“India and Europe should explore expanding our joint naval exercises, building on our very successful cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea and the Red Sea. We should also deepen cooperation in protecting the cables that ensure data connectivity between India and the European Union.”
At a time when Europe’s historic relationship with the US seems to be going downhill, Europe is spreading its risks, seeing virtue in a closer military relationship with India despite differences over Ukraine and the long-standing Delhi-Moscow friendship. Also interesting to note that President Putin is expected in India early this year, something which Europe may have weighed and decided not to make an issue of.
As Modi remarked during the media briefing following the end of the talks, “Our growing cooperation on defence and security is a symbol of our mutual trust. We will take forward our cooperation on cyber security, maritime security and counter terrorism.”
On the Indo-Pacific, he said, “Both sides agree on the importance of peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. We welcome Europe’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative.”
Other decisions were on expected lines. The setting of a deadline for later this year to conclude a free trade agreement may appear unrealistic but as Anil Wadhwa, former ambassador to Italy and secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs told StratNewsGlobal, “They know what we can give, she (Leyen) has told the trade negotiators to surprise us. It is a push from them, which was not the case earlier.”
A new Federation of European Businesses in India, bringing together 6,000 EU companies with the potential of generating eight million jobs, has been established to further bolster investment and economic ties.
Leyen was also keen on the India- Middle East- Europe Economic Corridor, although, given the current realities, progress there may be slow. A point which India, with its close ties to the region, knows and understands.
Modi underscored that India was keen to increase cooperation in semiconductors, AI, high-performance computing, and 6G. Von der Leyen said India and Europe aim to ensure the interoperability of digital infrastructure, cooperate in semiconductor R&D, and strengthen telecommunication networks.
India and the EU have agreed to establish a bold and ambitious roadmap for their partnership, which will be unveiled at the next India- EU Summit later this year. This roadmap will serve as a catalyst for translating shared ambitions into concrete actions.
With a touch of hyperbole, Von Der Leyen said, “The planets are aligned, and so are Europe and India.” While the talks have gone off well, the hard slog gets underway and not for the first time. The coming months will test the durability of the understanding reached in Delhi.
