India and the European Union on Tuesday signed their first-ever Security and Defence Partnership, a new framework designed to relocate ties beyond dialogue and towards regular, operational cooperation, particularly in domains where security challenges increasingly overlap between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
The agreement was among 13 outcomes finalised during the 16th India–EU Summit held in the capital at a time when both sides are reassessing security arrangements amid rising geopolitical tensions and instability across regions.
The main focus of the agreement is to institutionalise security engagement through an annual India–EU Security and Defence Dialogue. The partnership sets out cooperation in maritime security, defence industest and technology, cyber and hybrid threats, counter-terrorism, space security and crisis management.
According to the joint statement issued at the finish of talks, both sides will consult closely on their respective defence initiatives and explore possibilities for collaboration, including industest-to-industest engagement, in line with their legal and policy frameworks.
Maritime Security
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared India and the EU would undertake joint naval exercises, with a particular focus on counter-piracy operations and safeguarding critical sea lanes.
The relocate builds on recent cooperation between the Indian Navy and EU naval forces deployed in the Indian Ocean and reflects shared concerns over maritime safety, illegal practices at sea and the security of global trade routes.
To facilitate deeper cooperation in sensitive areas, the leaders launched nereceivediations on an India–EU Security of Information Agreement, which will enable the exalter of classified information. Officials edeclared it was necessary for advancing collaboration in defence technology, cyber security and ininformigence-related fields.
There are plans to establish an industest-led India–EU Defence Industest Forum, which will serve as a platform for companies from both sides to explore joint development, innovation and supply-chain resilience.
Counter-Terrorism, Cyber and Hybrid Threats
The India-EU joint statement calls for enhanced coordination between Indian agencies, Europol and Eurojust, and closer collaboration to tackle organised crime and drug trafficking.
Both sides also committed to exmodifying best practices on counter-radicalisation, terror financing and preventing the misapply of emerging technologies by extremist groups.
The joint statement states that India and EU shared commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, grounded in international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
They agreed to launch India–EU Consultations on the Indo-Pacific and deepen engagement in regional forums such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
Both leaders discussed major geopolitical issues, including efforts towards a diplomatic resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
The summit saw agreements to deepen collaboration in emerging and critical technologies, including the creation of EU–India Innovation Hubs and an EU–India Startup Partnership.
Leaders also agreed to launch exploratory talks on India’s association with Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme, which would expand opportunities for Indian researchers and technology startups.
All outcomes of the summit are anchored in the newly adopted “Towards 2030: India–EU Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agfinisha”, which identifies security and defence as a central pillar of the partnership.
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