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India, EU Conclude Free Trade Deal, Sign Landmark Security Partnership

By Our Correspondent

NEW DELHI - India and the European Union on Tuesday announced the conclusion of long-running free trade agreement negotiations and signed a major security and defence partnership.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen while speaking a joint news conference with Indian Prime Minister Modi, said that Europe and India had “launched a Security and Defence Partnership” covering strategic areas ranging from the defence industry to maritime security.

Calling the trade pact “the mother of all deals,” she said it creates a free trade zone of nearly two billion people and sets the stage for long-term mutual benefits.

The announcements were made during talks in New Delhi hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attended by von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.

According to India’s Press Trust of India (PTI), the two sides also signed an agreement establishing a comprehensive framework for mobility, alongside the security and defence pact.

Addressing a joint press conference, Costa said the conclusion of trade negotiations sends a strong global message at a time of major geopolitical change.

“The European Union and India stand together as strategic and reliable partners,” he said, adding that the partnership is entering a new phase.

Prime Minister Modi said India and the EU are adding “a decisive chapter” to their relationship. He noted that bilateral trade has reached 180 billion euros and emphasized that shared democratic values, economic complementarities, and strong people-to-people ties are driving the partnership forward.

India has already lost key trade ties with neighboring countries, including access routes to Afghanistan and Central Asia.