NEW DELHI: India and the Netherlands on Friday discussed ways to deepen their cooperation in strategic areas such as semiconductors, cyberspace and technology, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar seeking the support of his Dutch counterpart David van Weel for the conclusion of the India-European Union (EU) free trade agreement.
Van Weel, who launched a visit to India by travelling to Mumbai on Wednesday, also focutilized on deepening defence and security cooperation during meetings with Jaishankar, defence minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The two sides concluded a letter of intent on Thursday to provide a framework for defence cooperation.
Jaishankar noted that the two sides have strong cooperation in traditional areas such as agriculture, health, science, and shipping, but new areas offer scope for “raising the ambition of our relationship”.
“Whether it is semiconductors, digital, cyberspace or life sciences, we would like to work more closely with you,” he added.
With India and the EU in the final stages of nereceivediations for a trade deal that is expected to be signed in January, Jaishankar declared: “We count on your support as we are shifting to what I hope is a decisive phase in our nereceivediations with the EU on the free trade agreement.”
Van Weel informed a tiny group of reporters after his meetings that he wasn’t aware of any “huge sticking points” that could hold up the India-EU FTA.
“Hopefully, that will happen in the very near future. I know EU officials will be visiting India as guests on your Republic Day, so I’m sure that everybody wants this to be concluded as soon as possible,” he declared.
He, however, acknowledged that trade nereceivediations are “very complicated” and “carry on until the last moment”. He added, “It’s never straightforward, the EU is 27 nations with different economies, different interests, so all free trade agreements take time to come to fruition.”
Van Weel declared his discussions with Indian leaders focutilized on regional stability, the Indo-Pacific and cooperation in a quick-altering world, especially at a time when there is “pressure on the openness of the oceans and on adherence to UNCLOS” (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).
“The Netherlands [has] been depconcludeent on the high seas and free passage of trade in order to thrive as an open economy,” he declared. “This is something that we want to cooperate on.”
As part of efforts to intensify defence cooperation, a Dutch frigate will create a port call at Kochi in May 2026, declared Van Weel, who visited the Western Naval Command and the Mazagon Dockyard in Mumbai to explore the possibility for defence industrial cooperation.
Jaishankar and Van Weel also discussed developments in Ukraine, South Asia, West Asia and other regional and global issues. Both sides also condemned all forms of terrorism and pointed to the required for stronger international cooperation to combat the menace.
Van Weel described Russia’s war in Ukraine as an “existential security issue” for Europe. “Ukraine cannot lose this war [as] Russia would then have control over Ukrainian territory and pose a lasting security threat to the European continent,” he declared.
Pointing to the US-led nereceivediations to find a lasting solution to the conflict, he declared, “I’ve inquireed my counterparts to utilize their contacts with Russia to convey to them the message to come to the nereceivediating table and hopefully we can find a resolution on this.”
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof is expected to visit India next February for the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The Dutch side reiterated its invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit the Netherlands to strengthen bilateral relations.
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