EU Top Leaders to Attend India’s Republic Day as Chief Guests; Free Trade Agreement Likely

New Delhi: European Union (EU) leaders Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, will be the chief guests at India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations. Every year, India invites global leaders to mark the occasion, underscoring its growing diplomatic engagement.

Amid rising concerns over US trade and tariff policies, both sides are expected to sign a long-anticipated free trade agreement (FTA) on January 27. The agreement is seen as a major step to further strengthen bilateral trade, with the EU being India’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade reached USD 135 billion in FY 2023-24.

The three-day visit from January 25 to 27 will see von der Leyen and Costa engaging in high-level discussions to prepare a comprehensive global agenda. The meetings are expected to cover trade, security and defense cooperation, clean energy transition, and people-to-people collaboration.

“The summit is an important opportunity to reinforce our partnership and advance our cooperation. India is a key partner for the EU, and together we share the responsibility of upholding a rules-based international order,” Costa said.

During the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27, both sides are likely to formalize the proposed FTA. The agreement is expected to enhance overall bilateral relations and provide a counterbalance amid global trade disruptions arising from Washington’s tariff policies. Besides the FTA, defense agreements and a strategic agenda may also be finalized.

India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004. The previous 15th India-EU Summit was held virtually in July 2020. Following the historic EU Commissioners’ visit to India in February 2025, bilateral ties have expanded and deepened across multiple sectors. The new strategic work plan for the summit identifies five shared priority areas: security and defense, connectivity and global issues, prosperity, sustainability, and technology and innovation.