Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a significant joint telephone call on Thursday with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, underlining the growing depth of the India-EU partnership at a time of shifting global dynamics.

Highlighting India and the European Union as the “world’s largest democratic forces,” the leaders reflected on the robust bond between the two sides — a partnership grounded in mutual trust, shared democratic values, and a common vision for stability, prosperity, and sustainable global order.

The conversation placed particular emphasis on the India-EU Strategic Partnership as an anchor for addressing global challenges, fostering geopolitical stability, and reinforcing a rules-based multilateral framework at a time when great-power rivalries and regional conflicts disrupt international peace and security.

The leaders reviewed bilateral progress across a wide spectrum of areas, including trade, technology, investment, innovation, sustainability, defence and security cooperation, and supply chain resilience.

These sectors are increasingly recognised as strategic priorities not only for advancing mutual prosperity but also for strengthening collective global resilience in the face of economic disruptions from conflict, pandemics, and climate change.

A major highlight of the discussions was the reaffirmation of mutual commitment to expedite negotiations and early conclusion of the long-pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which has the potential to unlock new dimensions of commerce and investment between the two sides.

The leaders also reiterated support for swift implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), an ambitious connectivity project seen as a counterweight to alternative trade routes and as a booster for seamless global supply chains.

Building on the momentum of the EU College of Commissioners’ landmark visit to India earlier this year in February, the discussion also moved toward convening the next India-EU Summit. Both sides expressed interest in holding this Summit in India at the earliest mutually feasible date, with Prime Minister Modi extending a formal invitation to both European leaders.

The Summit is expected to serve as a platform for finalising a forward-looking Joint Strategic Agenda with clear objectives for cooperation into the next decade.

On regional and global affairs, the leaders engaged in a candid exchange of views on ongoing challenges, particularly the prolonged war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s principled and consistent stance in favour of a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, emphasising the urgent need for restoring peace and stability in the region.

Reflecting Europe’s position, Ursula von der Leyen, in a post on X following the call, appreciated India’s ongoing engagements with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and stressed New Delhi’s potential role in shaping pathways toward peace.

She cautioned that Russia’s war in Ukraine carries grave global security implications and continues to undermine the foundation of economic stability worldwide — highlighting the universal risks associated with the conflict.

Von der Leyen went further to project the next steps for EU-India relations, underlining the shared ambition of both sides to finalise a Joint Strategic Agenda during the upcoming summit, tentatively aimed at early 2026. She also brought urgency to the FTA negotiations, reiterating Europe’s firm commitment to conclude talks by the year’s end, while underscoring the pressing need for substantive progress.

This reflects Brussels’ recognition of India as an indispensable partner in not only advancing shared economic interests but also shaping global governance frameworks in areas of trade, climate action, digital transformation, and security.

Overall, the telephone dialogue reinforced the growing convergence between India and the European Union — a partnership increasingly seen as pivotal to shaping multipolarity and stability in the 21st century.

With both sides intensively focused on strengthening economic connectivity, ensuring resilient supply chains, addressing regional disputes through diplomacy, and advancing a rules-based global order, the upcoming India-EU Summit is likely to reset and broaden the strategic agenda of this relationship.

As the consultation ended, all three leaders committed to remain closely in touch, signalling continuity of engagement and the mutual recognition of the rising importance of the India-EU axis in the global political and economic landscape.

Based On ANI Report