EU Leaders Hail India's Rise as Global Stability Driver at Republic Day Celebrations

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa's presence at India's Republic Day celebrations highlights the deepening ties between India and the European Union (EU). This marked the second time a bloc's leaders have been invited to be chief guests at the event, after Asean in 2018. In a social media post, von der Leyen praised India's success, saying it makes the world more stable, prosperous, and secure. "A successful India benefits us all," she noted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the EU leaders, saying their presence underscores the growing strength of the India-EU partnership and their shared commitment to values. The visit is expected to boost cooperation between India and the EU across various sectors, including trade and security. The two sides are set to sign a shared vision for navigating the global economic and security landscape at the India-EU Summit on Tuesday. This comes as the EU and India work together to shape a new global order, with von der Leyen noting that the two largest democracies are committed to this goal. The Republic Day parade featured a contingent of EU military staff and naval operations, marking the first such engagement outside Europe. Von der Leyen described this as a powerful symbol of deepening security cooperation between the two sides. The summit is also expected to yield a Security and Defence Partnership, as well as agreements on a free trade pact, mobility, and a Security of Information Agreement. EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic expressed optimism about the free trade agreement, saying it will be finalised on Tuesday. Von der Leyen previously stated that the agreement will create a market of two billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global GDP. The two sides relaunched negotiations for the FTA in June 2022, with a target to conclude talks by the end of 2025.