Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held bilateral talks with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi, as part of their ongoing state visit to India. The meeting took place at Hyderabad House, with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas also in attendance.
PM Modi and the EU leaders shared cordial discussions at Hyderabad House ahead of the 16th India-EU Summit, which will be co-chaired by the Prime Minister.
Earlier, the European leaders paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, laying a wreath and signing the memorial’s guestbook in the presence of senior Indian officials.
The visit comes shortly after the conclusion of negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, hailed by PM Modi as the “Mother of all deals,” highlighting cooperation between two major global economies. Speaking virtually at the opening of India Energy Week 2026, Modi noted that the agreement represents nearly 25 per cent of global GDP and about one-third of global trade, reinforcing shared commitments to democracy and the rule of law. He added that the pact will complement existing agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
On Monday, India and the EU also signed a Security and Defence Partnership. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas described it as a milestone and said it opens doors for further bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation. With this agreement, India becomes the third Asian country, after Japan and South Korea, to enter into such a security and defence deal with the EU.
The India-EU summit and associated agreements underscore the growing strategic, economic, and diplomatic ties between the two partners. (Agencies)
