The global development narrative has visibly shifted, with the world order rapidly throwing curveballs. Trump 2.0’s increasing tariffs and decreasing aid marked the beginning of 2025, resulting in a domino effect on geopolitics and geoeconomics. New narratives are emerging, where advanced nations, such as those in the European Union (EU), Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and Australia and Japan, are perceptibly looking towards poles of stability and sustainability. The Ukraine crisis, coupled with the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the wider Middle East, as well as sudden surges in terrorism across parts of Africa and Asia—including the recent India-Pakistan spat following the Pahalgam terror attack—has indeed rendered global systems vulnerable and weak. India and the EU have not been left untouched. Positioned at different stages of development and possessing differing worldviews, there is nevertheless a visible desire to amplify and strengthen the strategic partnership shared by New Delhi and Brussels. The visit of the European Union College of Commissioners, led by Ursula von der Leyen, to India was not only the first by the new Commission outside the EU, but also the first such visit in the history of India-EU bilateral relations—marking a significant start to its new mandate. Over two decades after signing the India-EU Strategic Partnership in 2004, the EU launched its India Strategy in 2018. Nonetheless, immense scope remains to enhance strategic influence and maximise synergies between the two actors in several sectors.
India, the EU and the Demand for Renewed Partnerships (Swati Prabhu – Observer Research Foundation)
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