The European Union made a surprise visit to New Delhi last week, led by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The hastily arranged trip aimed to reinvigorate relations between the two sides and demonstrate that Europe still has friends in Asia.
In a joint press announcement with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, von der Leyen and her team outlined plans for closer cooperation, including a free trade agreement expected to be finalized by the end of the year. The EU also promised to establish a defense and security partnership with India, similar to agreements already in place with Japan and South Korea. This move is seen as an attempt by Europe to strengthen ties with India while navigating increasingly strained relations with Washington.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-03-02/a-friendless-eu-suddenly-wants-india-s-approval