India is intensifying its diplomatic engagement with Europe through high-level visits, strategic dialogues, and trade negotiations, signalling a shift toward deeper strategic and economic cooperation amidst global geopolitical realignments.

Strategic Realignments and Shared Vision

• Shift from Non-Alignment to Multi-Alignment:India has transitioned from its traditional non-aligned posture to multi-alignment, engaging with diverse global players including the European Union (EU) to preserve strategic autonomy in a bipolar world dominated by U.S.–China rivalry.
• Europe’s Pursuit of Strategic Autonomy:Key EU members like France and Germany have embraced the concept of strategic autonomy, aiming to reduce overdependence on the U.S., recalibrate NATO reliance, and establish Europe as an independent pole of global influence.
• Multipolarity as a Common Strategic Goal:Both India and Europe seek to advance a multipolar world order grounded in international law, plural values, inclusive institutions, and multilateral cooperation, as a counterbalance to rising authoritarianism and geopolitical coercion.

Economic, Trade, and Technology Synergies

• Surge in Bilateral Trade and Investment:Between 2015 and 2022, EU FDI in India grew by 70%, with France's investment alone rising by 373%, while EU imports from India have doubled—indicating a strong but under-leveraged trade potential.
• India–EU Trade and Investment Agreement (TIA):The delayed India–EU TIA must be expedited with an Early Harvest Agreement, while addressing India's concerns regarding the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), to ensure climate justice and avoid disguised protectionism.
• Digital Public Infrastructure and Innovation:Europe’s deep-tech leadership complements India’s scalable digital public goods. Joint leadership in clean energy, AI governance, semiconductor manufacturing, and biotech can reshape global digital and green transitions.

Security, Defence, and Global Governance

• Defence Cooperation and Co-Development:Europe is a key arms supplier to India; under Atmanirbhar Bharat and ReArm 2025, there is unprecedented scope for technology transfer, joint production, and strengthening defence industrial bases on both sides.
• Maritime and Cyber Security, Counter-Terrorism:Strategic cooperation extends to maritime domain awareness, space collaboration, cybersecurity, and tackling terrorism, especially pressuring Pakistan over state-sponsored extremism—an issue that affects both regions.
• Shaping Global Norms through Multilateralism:India and Europe are aligned on reforming multilateral forums (UN, WTO) and co-leading Global South-centric frameworks, resisting hegemonic binaries and preserving a rules-based, democratic global order.

PracticeQuestion:

"The evolving India–Europe partnership reflects a shift from transactional diplomacy to a value-based strategic engagement. Critically analyse this shift in the context of current geopolitical transformations and its implications for India’s foreign policy."   (250 words)