Von der Leyen said during a New Delhi visit that the bloc was considering a defense and security partnership with India. The EU is aiming to achieve a free trade agreement with New Delhi ahead of possible US tariffs.

India and the EU must take their strategic ties to the "next level" in an era of great power competition and geopolitical turmoils and the relationship has the potential to be one of the defining partnerships of this century,

Von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s commitment to making the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) a reality. The corridor, launched in 2023 during India’s G20 Presidency, is designed to enhance trade efficiency and connectivity between India,

Highlighting the need to bolster cooperation between new Delhi and Brussels in the areas of digital technology, Artificial Intelligence and defence, EU President Ursula von der Leyen termed India as a "pillar of certainty" for Europe in an "increasingly uncertain world".

In a significant diplomatic push, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday that the European Union is exploring a Security and Defence Partnership with India—a move that could reshape India-EU relations in the years to come.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen Friday said Europe is ready to take the quantum leap and step-up its cooperation from trade to defence and security with “crucial partners” like India.

The EU is seeking to diversify its partnerships in the face of possible tariffs from Washington. Talks on a free trade agreement with New Delhi are scheduled for March.