E-Paper
'A successful India makes the world more stable': EU chief Ursula von der Leyen ahead of signing ‘mother of all deals’
These remarks also came ahead of her visit to New Delhi as a Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a chief guest at Republic Day 2026 celebrations in New Delhi, emphasised the importance of India to global stability and growth on Monday. Her remarks come at a crucial moment as India and the European Union move closer to finalising a long-awaited Free Trade Agreement, a deal both sides have described as historic in scale and ambition.
"It is the honor of a lifetime to be Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations. A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. And we all benefit," von der Leyen, who has decribed the agreement as the “mother of all deals”, wrote on X.
India-EU deal
Both India and the European Union move closer to what von der Leyen has described as a “historic trade agreement”, one that would create a combined market of 2 billion people.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, von der Leyen said the proposed market would account for nearly a quarter of global GDP. “I will travel to India. There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement. Some call it the mother of all deals,” she said.
Von der Leyen’s emphasis on the scale of the agreement comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has been using tariffs against India and European countries to push them into positions he prefers.
“It is time to seize this opportunity and build a new independent Europe,” von der Leyen said, referring to ongoing “geopolitical shocks” and the response of the 27-nation European bloc.
Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are in India from January 25 to 27 as chief guests for Republic Day celebrations and a summit. They are scheduled to hold summit-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Also Read | ‘Mother of all deals’ with India almost sealed: EU leader ahead of R-Day summit with Modi
At the India-EU summit on January 27, the two sides are expected to announce the conclusion of negotiations on the long-pending Free Trade Agreement. “And, crucially, that would provide a first-mover advantage for Europe with one of the world's fastest growing and most dynamic continents,” von der Leyen said, adding that Europe wants to deepen business ties with today’s growth centres and the economic powerhouses of the future.
“From Latin America to the Indo Pacific and far beyond, Europe will always choose the world. And the world is ready to choose Europe,” she said in her televised address.
