NEW DELHI β In a move that signals a profound deepening of strategic ties, India and the European Union (EU) are set to sign a comprehensive Security and Defence Partnership agreement in New Delhi next week. The pact, described by diplomats as a “pivotal moment” for bilateral relations, is expected to be formalized during the 16th India-EU Summit scheduled for January 27, 2026.
The announcement was confirmed by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, while addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Kallas emphasized that in an increasingly volatile global landscape, the two major democracies “cannot afford to hesitate” in strengthening their security architecture.
Focus is on Maritime and Cyber Frontiers. The new partnership aims to move the relationship “from words to action” by creating operational frameworks for cooperation in three critical domains:
Setting up maritime security by enhancing maritime domain awareness and conducting joint naval exercises to safeguard open sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific.
Establishing shared protocols to deter digital threats and protect critical infrastructure from hybrid warfare.
Implementing Measures to Counter-Terrorism by coordinating intelligence sharing and response strategies to address transnational security challenges.
Additionally, both sides are launching negotiations for a “Security of Information Agreement,” which will facilitate the exchange of classified strategic data, a step previously reserved for the EU’s closest security allies.
The signing coincides with a high-profile diplomatic visit. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President AntΓ³nio Costa will travel to India as Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day celebrations on January 26.
For the first time in history, a small military contingent from the European Union is expected to participate in the Republic Day parade, symbolizing the burgeoning defense industrial cooperation between the two regions.
A Broader Strategic Agenda is in force while security is at the forefront, the summit will also see the adoption of the “EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda 2030.” This roadmap covers a wide array of sectors.
Negotiators are working around the clock to finalize the long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which could be announced alongside the security pact.
A new Memorandum of Understanding on mobility is set to be signed, facilitating easier movement for researchers, students, and highly skilled professionals.
Plans for a “Green Hydrogen Corridor” to link Indiaβs production scale with Europeβs technology and capital.
The timing of the pact is significant, coming as both New Delhi and Brussels navigate a shifting global order characterized by trade tensions and regional conflicts. By anchoring their partnership in security, India and the EU are positioning themselves as stabilizing poles in a multipolar world.
“Europe is ready to deliver on a powerful new agenda with India,” Kallas stated, noting that India is indispensable to Europeβs economic resilience and strategic stability.
As the final preparations are made in New Delhi, the international community views this upcoming summit not just as a diplomatic formality, but as a structural shift that could redefine the security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific and beyond for the next decade.
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