India and the European Union (EU) will soon be conducting a first-ever ministerial Strategic Foreign Policy Dialogue, which will be exemplary for the development of a closer partnership. The information was discussed during the phone call between the Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the recently appointed EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Kallas, who was appointed as the EU foreign policy chief this month, August replaces Josep Borrell from Spain in the position.
The top priorities of the discussion between Jaishankar and Kallas were the situation in Europe, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region. Jaishankar expressed his eagerness for further engagement, tweeting: “Delighted to speak with @kajakallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of @EU_Commission. Discussed developments in Europe, West Asia and Indo-Pacific. Look forward to an early meeting.”
Kallas in her turn, focused on the interdependencies of global risks and security and underlined the need for progress in security-trade-digitalisation-green transition links. She shared in a post on X: “We also agreed that we would attend the first ministerial Strategic Foreign Policy Dialogue shortly.”
This dialogue is considered a preparatory one for the anticipated India-EU Summit of 2025, and the two parties are interested not only in the creation of the Summit but also in the desire to have solid content in the Summit. As reported by the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Hervé Delphin, both parties remain dedicated to diversifying partnerships and continuing cooperation in the sphere of security and foreign policy.
It will be interesting to watch what aspects of the relations the ministerial dialogue will embrace, starting from India’s call for a free and open Indo-Pacific and efforts to derisk the global supply chain to Europe’s focus on the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Security of seaborne traffic in the Indian Ocean may also remain one of the central topics of the negotiations.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates