From FTA to Hormuz: Jaishankar’s EU talks signal India’s growing weight as strategic partner for Europe

At a time when the world has become more unstable and uncertain, and multilateralism has come under severe stress, the India-European Union (EU) partnership will act as a factor of stability and resilience. This is the key message delivered by India and EU during the recent visit of India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar to Brussels.

Jaishankar participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, interacting with foreign ministers from all 27 member states, discussing the West Asia conflict, the Ukraine war, developments in the Indo-Pacific, and progress on India-EU ties

Concluding his visit, he said that the security and defence partnership between the India and EU will be taken forward. He also said that negotiations associated with the ‘Security of Information Agreement’ would be endeavoured to conclude early.

The minister also pointed out at enhancing the connectivity framework between the two, with special emphasis on India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

FTA: A turning point

This was the first visit of Jaishankar to Europe, post the signing of free trade agreement (FTA) between the two in January. The trade pact, described by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as “the mother of all deals,” represents a turning point in the India-Europe ties. It also signals India’s shifting geopolitical priorities, with a renewed focus on Europe.

India has also proposed to upgrade and reorient the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) to facilitate partnership in critical and cutting-edge technologies.

The geoeconomic depth of the partnership further increased due to the catalyst effect of US President Donald Trump, where both the India and EU found themselves at the receiving end. India was hit with a 50 per cent tariff by Trump administration, while Europe was also threatened with a 30 per cent tariff before reaching a deal last year.

The signed FTA has eliminated tariffs on over 90 per cent of imports for both sides, and also proposes strengthening of supply chains and increasing investments.

West Asia in focus

The visit was also significant for the fact that it marked the first direct engagement between  India and the EU, since the conflict in West Asia started that has severely disrupted the supply chain, especially because of the prolonged blockade of Strait of Hormuz.

Risks of energy insecurity have also surfaced in the region, as a majority of India’s oil supply happens through the Gulf.

India and EU remains geopolitically convergent on the issue by not being directly associated with the conflict. India has maintained a constant stand since the war started, with repeated calls for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

Meanwhile, European nations have, earlier, also ruled out sending warships to the strait of Hormuz, despite Trump’s threats that NATO faces “a very bad future” if member countries fail to help reopen the vital waterway.

However after the recent meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that they (India-EU) examined ways to better protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, including possible contributions by the EU’s naval mission Aspides, warning that the closure of the strait is “hurting the global economy, helping Russia fund its war, affecting the EU’s partners in the region, and is dangerous for global energy supplies”

Kallas also emphasised that attention on West Asia should not overshadow Ukraine, while adding that easing US sanctions on Russian oil sets a “dangerous precedent.”

During the meeting with EU’s Foreign Affairs Council, Jaishankar also held bilateral talks with counterparts from Germany, Belgium, Greece, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. The talks covered semiconductors, AI, manufacturing, healthcare, defence, and connectivity, highlighting that the strategic depth between the India-EU relationship has expanded beyond trade.