New Delhi: The European Union’s Political and Security Committee (PSC) is set to visit India for the first time from 10-14 September as the two partners look to strengthen ties amidst current global turmoil.
“In today’s volatile geopolitical and economic landscape, the EU and India emerge as natural partners with strongly converging interests and shared values. Our leaders are determined to elevate the EU-India Strategic Partnership and harness its immense potential,” Hervé Delphin, the EU’s Ambassador to India, said in a statement Monday.
Delphin added, “The PSC visit to India underscores Team Europe’s collective will to strengthen ties with India, especially in the area of defence and security cooperation.”
Ambassador Delphine Pronk, the chair of the PSC, added that the India-EU partnership is vital in areas such as “counterterrorism, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, maritime security and maritime domain awareness, space security, defence industry cooperation and countering foreign information manipulation”.
All of the topics mentioned above are set to be a part of the agenda during the PSC’s visit to India.
The visit builds on the earlier one by 21 Commissioners of the EU along with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in February. This visit by the College of Commissioners (equivalent to the Union Cabinet) to New Delhi was the first ever in the history of ties between the two partners.
Agricultural Commissioner Christophe Hansen and trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic are also visiting India this week to push the negotiations for the India – EU FTA.
The raft of diplomacy between the two sides is set to pick up pace in the next three months. The EU is likely to announce its new strategic vision for ties with India later this month, according to reports.
The increasing engagement in key areas comes amid turmoil in the global geopolitical situation, especially the trading regime, which has come under strain as US President Donald Trump has unveiled various measures to promote his “America first” agenda. From tariffs on every country in the world, to striking investment deals with long-time allies, Trump has looked to reshape the global trading regime from the one created 80 years ago at the end of World War II.
Busy week for 🇪🇺🤝🇮🇳!
Alongside FTA talks, EU Political & Security Committee, chaired by Ambassador @FienBZ & joined by 27 EU Member States’ ambassadors in Brussels, heads to New Delhi for its first-ever visit to India (10–14 Sept)! 👇https://t.co/9Ty1oMhiXE pic.twitter.com/HSFJjHfiL4
— EU in India (@EU_in_India) September 8, 2025
Ties ties between New Delhi and Washington DC have been impacted by Trump’s imposition of 50 percent tariffs last month on Indian exports for what he termed unfair trading practices and the continued purchase of Russian oil. The US is India’s largest market for exports, which touched $86 billion in the last financial year.
Ties between the US and the EU have been complicated since the return of Trump to the White House. The American President struck a trade deal with the EU a couple of months ago, which would see European companies invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the US economy in return for continued access to the North American nation’s markets.
India has sought to diversify its trade ties in recent months focusing on free trade agreements with different countries. New Delhi signed an FTA with London in May this year, and is set to announce one with Oman soon. Furthermore, India has opened negotiations with Australia for the second tranche of its trade deal and is in the midst of negotiations for a deal with the EU.
The EU deal has been under negotiations for the last three years, but there has been an increased impetus to conclude the consultations by the end of this year, ahead of a potential India-EU summit in New Delhi early next year.
“During their first visit to India, the Committee will hold strategic discussions with high-level Indian government officials, private sector defence representatives, civil society organisations and leading think-tanks,” the statement by the EU said.
The statement added, “This extensive engagement aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of policy priorities, while exploring future avenues for enhancing cooperation on key foreign policy matters, security and defence, particularly in the lead up to the upcoming EU-India Summit.”
The PSC comprises the ambassadors of all the EU member-states. Based in Brussels and chaired by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the PSC plays a key role in the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) – the key agenda of the 27-member bloc in its external relations.
The PSC also advises the EU Military Committee and other related strategic groups within the organisation. The growing India-EU partnership in strategic areas comes as New Delhi expands its bilateral ties amongst key members of the organisation such as Germany, Spain and France.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul was in New Delhi last week, where he underscored Berlin’s view of New Delhi, one of being a “trusted” friend in an increasingly volatile world. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the time declared that “predictability” is a “premium” these days as he underlined the growing convergence in views between India and Germany and the EU by extension.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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