In a display of high-level diplomacy, India extended a formal welcome to European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. The leaders, chief guests for the 77th Republic Day parade, were saluted with a guard of honour in New Delhi, marking the prelude to crucial bilateral talks.
Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce, Industry, Electronics, and IT, received Costa at the airport. The Foreign Office’s Randhir Jaiswal posted on social media: ‘Formal welcome and Guard of Honour to European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They are the Chief Guests for India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations. This visit will deepen the India-EU Strategic Partnership.’
Costa, arriving for the 16th EU-India Summit, shared his excitement: ‘Ahead of India’s 77th Republic Day, honoured to be in New Delhi for the 16th EU-India Summit. We’re celebrating robust ties in trade, security, clean energy transitions, and people exchanges.’ Von der Leyen had landed the previous day, setting the tone for substantive engagements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the summit on January 27, where leaders will deliberate on accelerating the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, bolstering supply chain resilience, and advancing climate goals. Costa had previously stated, ‘India is crucial for the EU. We jointly uphold a rules-based global order.’
This rendezvous is more than ceremonial; it’s a strategic affirmation amid global uncertainties. The EU views India as a counterbalance in the Indo-Pacific, while India seeks European investment in semiconductors, renewables, and defence. Republic Day’s grandeur, with its tableaux and flypast, will provide a vibrant backdrop, but the real fireworks will unfold in summit rooms, potentially unlocking billions in trade and tech collaborations.
As the world watches, this partnership evolves from dialogue to deliverables, positioning both as pillars of multipolar stability.