EU chief Ursula von der Leyen arrives in India, to be Chief Guest at Republic Day celebrations

New Delhi: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday arrived in India on a State Visit during which she, along with European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, will also be attending India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations as a Chief Guest, marking a significant milestone in India–EU relations.

The European Union (EU) chief was received by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada upon her arrival.

“Charting the next phase of the India–EU Strategic partnership. A warm welcome to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, on her State Visit to India. Received by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry; and Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada. As the world’s two largest democracies, India and the EU share a partnership rooted in mutual trust and shared values,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X.

Earlier in the day, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President Kaja Kallas arrived in New Delhi on her first official visit, with the MEA describing the trip as timely for further strengthening the India–EU Strategic Partnership amid sustained high-level engagements between the two sides.

“A warm welcome to EU HRVP Kaja Kallas on her first official visit to India as the EU High Representative/Vice-President. The visit comes at an opportune moment to further strengthen the India–EU Strategic Partnership, building on the momentum of regular high-level engagements,” the MEA stated.

The European leaders’ visit comes against the backdrop of intensified diplomatic engagement between India and the European Union, with both sides seeking to deepen cooperation amid global volatility and geopolitical uncertainty.

On Thursday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held an interaction with Ambassadors from EU member countries in New Delhi with the discussions focussed on the current global environment marked by instability and rapidly shifting dynamics.

“Pleased to interact with the Ambassadors from EU countries today. Spoke to them about the current state of the world with volatility and instability as the new normal,” the External Affairs Minister posted on X after the meeting.

EAM Jaishankar made a strong case for closer India–EU cooperation, highlighting areas where the partnership could play a stabilising global role. He said stronger ties would help “derisk the world economy” through cooperation on resilient supply chains, reassure the international community by providing public goods such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), anti-piracy operations, and development projects, and stabilise the global order through enhanced trade, mobility, and security partnerships.

The engagement with EU ambassadors came ahead of the State Visit to India by European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

EAM Jaishankar said India is eagerly looking forward to hosting the EU leaders, who are arriving at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During their visit, Costa and Ursula von der Leyen will also co-chair the 16th India–EU Summit on January 27.

As part of their engagements, the EU leaders will call on President Droupadi Murmu and hold restricted as well as delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi. An India–EU Business Forum is also expected to be organised on the sidelines of the summit, reflecting the emphasis both sides place on economic cooperation and trade.

According to the MEA, the high-level visits and diplomatic engagements underscore the growing strategic importance of the India–EU partnership at a time of global uncertainty and shared challenges.

IANS