Europe’s Discovery of India
•February 25, 2026
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Why It Matters
The EU‑India FTA signals a strategic realignment that could reshape trade and security dynamics across the Indo‑Pacific, offering businesses and policymakers new growth corridors. Europe’s investment in India expertise will be crucial to capitalize on this partnership and counter external disruptions.
Key Takeaways
- •EU-India FTA signed after years of delay
- •Security cooperation targets Indo-Pacific stability
- •Tech partnership focuses on AI and green tech
- •Russia's actions could stall joint security initiatives
- •Europe must build deeper India expertise
Pulse Analysis
The EU‑India Free Trade Agreement, finalized after protracted negotiations, marks a watershed moment for bilateral commerce. By eliminating tariffs on a broad range of goods and harmonising regulatory standards, the pact opens market access for European manufacturers and Indian service providers alike. Analysts anticipate a surge in cross‑border investment, particularly in renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and digital services, as firms leverage the reduced cost of entry and the credibility of a formal trade framework. This commercial momentum also dovetails with Europe’s broader strategic pivot toward the Indo‑Pacific, where India is viewed as a pivotal counterbalance to China’s growing influence.
Beyond trade, security collaboration is gaining traction, driven by shared concerns over maritime stability, cyber threats, and the fallout from Russia’s aggressive posture. Joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and coordinated diplomatic initiatives are being charted to reinforce a rules‑based order in the region. However, the partnership faces constraints: Europe remains cautious about India’s domestic regulatory environment and its capacity to meet stringent EU standards. Moreover, divergent strategic cultures could complicate joint responses to crises, especially if Russia seeks to exploit fissures in Indo‑European coordination.
To sustain and deepen this nascent alliance, European policymakers are urged to invest in India expertise across think‑tanks, academia, and diplomatic corps. Enhanced understanding of India’s political economy, technological ecosystem, and regional aspirations will enable more nuanced policy design and risk mitigation. As the EU‑India relationship evolves from rhetoric to actionable strategy, businesses and governments alike must monitor the interplay of trade benefits, security imperatives, and geopolitical risks to fully harness the partnership’s potential.
Original Description
Over the past year, Europe–India relations have entered a markedly upbeat phase. What was once a diffuse partnership—long on rhetoric, short on strategy—now looks far more purposeful.
From the announcement on a long-delayed EU-India Free Trade Agreement to expanding cooperation on security, technology, and migration, Europe and India appear to be—finally—converging around a shared strategic logic.
To unpack what’s driving this convergence—and where its limits lie—Milan is joined on the show this week by Garima Mohan. Garima is a senior fellow in the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund based in Brussels. In this capacity, she leads GMF’s work on India and serves as convenor of the India Trilateral Forum.
Her research focuses on Europe-India ties, EU foreign policy in Asia, and security in the Indo-Pacific. She’s also the author of a new GMF report titled, “A Long Time Coming: Europe and India have discovered a strategic partnership,” published in January 2026.
Milan and Garima discuss the geopolitical drivers that are bringing the EU and India closer together, Europe’s views on the limits to India’s potential, and the key takeaways from the EU-India FTA. Plus, the two discuss how Russia might derail Indo-European security cooperation and the urgent need for Europe to invest in India expertise.
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