India and EU are showing a fractured world another way to engage: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen

India and the European Union are giving a “fractured world” an alternative, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, even as the EU trade commissioner announced that negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are “nearing conclusion” at the beginning of the EU delegation’s visit to Delhi. While the FTA will be watched most closely, in terms of bilateral gains for both countries, it is the timing of the Summit, amidst unprecedented transatlantic tensions between the EU and the United States over territorial issues and trade, that is most significant.

“India and Europe have made a clear choice… strategic partnership, dialogue and openness,” said Ms. Von Der Leyen in a social media post. We are showing a fractured world that another way is possible,” she added.

Ms. von der Leyen arrived in Delhi on Saturday (January 24, 2026), after a tense week at the World Economic Forum conference at Davos, where many European leaders sparred with U.S. President Donald Trump over his claims on Greenland and tariff threats. Prior to that, the EU leadership was in Paraguay to sign a major EU-MERCOSUR FTA between European and South American countries.

Both Ms. Von Der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa were given a formal guard of honour at the Delhi airport on Sunday (January 25, 2026), and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called on them in the evening to set the agenda for the next two days of intensive India-EU engagements including at the Republic Day parade on Monday (January 26, 2026), and the EU-India Summit and a Business summit on Tuesday (January 27, 2026).

“India is a crucial partner for the EU. Together, we share the capacity and responsibility to protect the rules-based international order,” said Mr. Costa.

Mr. Jaishankar also held talks with his counterpart EU Vice President/High Representative Kaja Kallas, and described the “growing comfort and strong convergences of the India-European Union partnership” in a post on social media.

According to an EU statement, the two sides will adopt a joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda during the visit, addressing security and defence ties, trade, technology partnerships and connectivity issues. They will also discuss global issues, including the “importance of an effective multilateral system, a free and prosperous Indo‑Pacific region, Russia’s war against Ukraine, [and] the situation in the Middle East (West Asia),” the statement added. The strategic agreement is also significant as it will come days after the U.S. issued its latest Defence Strategy 2026, which considerably downplays ties with Europe and omits all mention of India.

While the statement did not confirm the EU-India FTA, that has been under negotiation since 2007 and re-launched in 2022, was ready for signing on Tuesday, it said that the deal would boost bilateral trade and investment and “drive shared prosperity”.

“I’m confident to say we’re nearing the conclusion of our FTA negotiations. The cumulation of an intense past year,” said Maros Sefcovic, stating this is his 10^th ministerial engagement with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who confirmed that the FTA talks were “closer to a fruitful outcome”. According to reports, the two sides have made more progress in the last few days on lowered tariffs and unprecedented market access to India for European companies, and technology cooperation and job opportunities for Indians, despite issues over areas like agricultural good, auto tariffs, and environmental taxes.

EU Presidents Mr. Costa and Ms. von der Leyen will attend India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations as chief guests on Monday. They will also attend an “At Home” reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan in the evening. Their summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take place on Tuesday, followed by a business event. The EU is India’s largest trading partner in goods with bilateral trade topping $136 billion last year.