India and EU Explore Security Partnership Amid Global Concerns

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met to discuss a potential security and defence partnership. The talks, which included 22 of the 27 EU Commissioners, focused on safeguarding trade and maritime communication routes amidst traditional and non-traditional threats. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the growing India-EU cooperation in defence and security, including joint military exercises and maritime security collaboration. They emphasized the need for deeper collaboration in counterterrorism, including combating cross-border terrorism and its financing. The EU welcomed India's interest in joining defence industrial projects under the PESCO initiative and negotiating a Security of Information Agreement. Von der Leyen described India as a "pillar of certainty" and highlighted the importance of securing the Indian Ocean for global trade. Discussions also covered the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in West Asia, with both sides supporting a peaceful resolution based on international law. The EU's engagement in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative was welcomed, with plans for joint development projects in the Indo-Pacific region and Africa.