EU flags Russian oil, military drills while it commits to ‘next level' India ties, a trade deal by end of 2025
India-Russia ties by one of EU's top leaders among factors that "stand in the way", while its governing body prez speaks of taking EU-India ties “to next level”
Reservations from Europe over India's ties with Russia continue even as it remains committed to a deeper mutual relationship with New Delhi, including a Free Trade Agreement by the end of 025.
The India-Russia relationship was flagged by one of the EU's top leaders among factors that "stand in the way of closer ties", while its governing body president spoke of taking the EU-India partnership “to the next level” and “finalising our trade agreement by end of the year”.
“Now is the time to double down on partnerships rooted in shared interests and guided by common values,” Ursula von der Leyen, who is president of the European Commission, the main governing branch of the EU, posted on X.
But Kaja Kallas, a vice-president of the commission and EU High Representative for common foreign affairs and security policy, spoke against India's participation in military exercises with Russia and its purchases of oil, when Vladimir Putin continues the war on Ukraine.
"Ultimately, our partnership is not only about trade, but also about defending the rules-based international order," Kallas said, while announcing the bloc's new strategy to strengthen EU-India ties.
The strategy includes a bid to build stronger ties on defence and security as well.
India, among other Moscow allies like Iran, has taken part in Russia's Zapad (West) joint drills with Belarus this month.
"Participating in military exercises, purchases of oil — all these are obstacles to our cooperation when it comes to deepening the ties," Kallas said.
The EU is India's largest trading partner, after a growth of over 90% over the past decade, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said alongside Kallas in Brussels.
The Russia question notwithstanding, the EU and India are working to conclude talks on a free trade agreement by the end of 2025 amid New Delhi's own tensions with the US over similar questions.
US-India ties were strained after President Donald Trump raised tariffs on most Indian exports to 50% in August over the continued purchases of Russian oil. India has defended its sovereign right to buy as per national interest, and pointed out that even after the war began in Ukraine, the US had in fact encouraged it to make these purchases to keep global oil prices in check.
But tensions on the US-India tariff front have since cooled, and talks for a deal resumed, after Trump and PM Narendra Modi exchanged admiration posts on social media, followed by a ‘happy birthday’ call by the US President to the Indian leader on Tuesday night.
India has kept a neutral stance “for peace” in the Russia-Ukraine conflict even though US officials even called it “Modi's war” as they said India's purchase of oil was “funding Putin's war machine”.
Trump has more recently termed the situation “more of a Europe problem”.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky at one point criticised India, too, but he remains under US pressure to concede ground for peace with Russia.
Putin, meanwhile, also called up PM Modi on Wednesday with birthday wishes. Modi posted on X: “Thank you, my friend, President Putin, for your phone call and warm wishes on my 75th birthday. We are committed to further strengthening our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. India is ready to make all possible contributions towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.”
Ursula von der Leyen also also wished Modi on his birthday as he turned 75 on September 17. Modi's post about her call said: “India is ready to take the India-EU relationship to the next level. It is our shared commitment, shared goal, and shared responsibility. We remain committed to an early and peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict."
(with AFP inputs)
