The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas has asserted that New Delhi’s participation in military exercises with Russia and its continued purchases of Russian oil hinder deeper India-EU ties.

While unveiling the EU’s new strategy to strengthen cooperation with India, Kallas stated, “There are areas where we disagree. India’s participation in Russia’s military exercises and its purchase of Russian oil stand in the way of closer ties.”

We just adopted a new EU-India strategy.

It offers stronger cooperation on trade, technology, climate, security and defence.

But there are areas where we disagree. Ultimately our partnership is about defending the rules-based international order.

My press remarks pic.twitter.com/sJT1iAFdt3

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) September 17, 2025

Kallas also noted that India and the EU’s relations are not only about trade, but also about defending the rule-based international order, and the negotiations will address these challenges.

However, despite differing stances on Russia, the EU and India are pursuing free trade agreement negotiations and aiming to conclude talks by the end of 2025.

EU BACKS INDIA WITH NEW STRATEGIC AGENDA

When U.S. President Donald Trump called on Europe to punish India with tariffs of up to 100 per cent, Brussels chose a very different path. Instead of following Washington’s pressure tactics, the European Union doubled down on its partnership with New Delhi, unveiling a “New Strategic EU-India Agenda” that aims to reshape ties across trade, technology, security and climate.

EU-INDIA TRADE ALREADY BOOMING

Under the agenda, both sides aim to finalise a long-awaited free trade agreement by the end of 2025, a deal that could become one of the largest of its kind globally. Bilateral trade already stood at 120 billion in goods in 2024, making the EU India’s biggest trading partner. Around 6,000 European companies now operate in India, directly employing three million people.

– Ends

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