Avoid us, the courts of Europe India for trade and security

• The leading EU team heading to India for a two -day excursion on Thursday.
• Almost all 26 EU commissioners are going to participate in the visit.
• Trade will be high on the agenda, as the EU seems to differentiate the links.
  

The EU’s top team is to launch an “unprecedented” visit to India this week, as the block seeks to broaden its trade and diplomatic ties by offsetting relations with the United States.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and its College of Commissioners are set to talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government in New Delhi during a two -day trip, starting on Thursday.

The journey is the last sign of a Brussels push to differentiate links away from the United States and to be placed as a reliable partner for others who want to do business.

“At this time of intense geostrategic competition, Europe represents opening, partnership and promotion,” Von Der Leyen said in front of the trip, causing India as one of the “most reliable friends and allies” of the EU. .

Almost all 26 EU commissioners are going to participate in the 66-year-old German politician in what the bloc executive is the charge as the first visit of his kind to South Asia Giant-and the first outside Europe for the new college to take office. December.

It comes as US President Donald Trump has upgraded the traditional close cooperation of Brussels with Washington, violating EU laws, threatening invoices and underestimating European allies, starting Ukraine’s talks with Vladimir Putin.

The European Union has remained “looking for friends” and India, the most populous country in the world, is a “natural candidate”, said Andre Sapir of the Think Tank Bruegel based in Brussels.

Commercial call

Brussels has been working to broaden its horizons since Trump won the White House in November.

In recent months it has announced an enhanced trade agreement with Mexico, the repetition of talks with Malaysia, a new deal with South American Bloc Mercosur and the first “EU-central Asia.

It has also achieved a more compromise note to China, but “remains an important strategic challenge for Europe,” said James Crabtree, of the European Council for Foreign Relations (ECFR).

“Building stronger links with India – a democracy with increasing global influence – offers both a greater financial opportunity and a political call,” he said.

Trade will be high on the agenda.

The EU is India’s largest trading partner, representing the trade of € 124 billion

The expansion of the India market offers basic opportunities for areas ranging from defense to agriculture, cars and clean energy. However, it is protected by high invoices, today only represents 2.2% of the EU trade trade.

Negotiations on a trade agreement were renewed in 2022 and could promote a boost from a white house that covered invoices to friends and enemies, a European diplomat said.

“The case for a free trade agreement has never been stronger,” the diplomat said.

AI and defense

The Trump Fited Modi in Washington is committed to increasing trade this month, but India is also looking for refreshed relationships elsewhere as “compensation against a recently whimsical America,” Crabtree said.

The European Commission’s trip comes hard for the heels of a visit by British Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds aimed at restarting the delayed trade negotiations.

“In the shadow of US invoices, India back on the table for commercial talks with the United Kingdom, EU,” a title in Indian Express Daily Read on Tuesday.

One of the biggest challenges for New Delhi in recent years has created millions of new jobs for the young and rapidly growing specialized workforce.

The government of India has also prompted Europe for years to grant faster visas for businesses and students.

Cooperation for technology and artificial intelligence, where Europe and India are willing to play a bigger role will also be on the table.

Thus, security and defense, the EU diplomat said, adding Brussels was willing to “join forces” with New Delhi. The offer of defense equipment, the imposition of EU sanctions on Russia, and the peace talks on Ukraine were likely to be discussed.

India has long sought a policy of strategic autonomy in foreign affairs.

Historically near Russia, the traditional supplier of the military material, it resisted Western pressure from Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.

The Commission’s visit is not expected to lead to any agreement, but it should pave the way for an EU-India summit to be held in India later this year.