Von der Leyen said during a New Delhi visit that the bloc was considering a defense and security partnership with India. The EU is aiming to achieve a free trade agreement with New Delhi ahead of possible US tariffs.

In a significant diplomatic push, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday that the European Union is exploring a Security and Defence Partnership with India—a move that could reshape India-EU relations in the years to come.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday in an attempt to revive and expand economic ties. The return of Donald Trump to the White House, tensions with China and economic sanctions on Russia have prompted Brussels to push for deeper trading ties with other economies.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in India on Thursday, aiming to strengthen commercial and diplomatic ties with the world's most populous country. The EU and India are seeking to expedite a long-delayed free trade agreement,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed the the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen as she arrived at the Hyderabad House in the national capital for bilateral talks.The President of the 27-nation bloc is on a two-day bilateral visit to India,

The European Union is exploring a security and defence partnership with India, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday before meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Von der Leyen arrived in India on Thursday for a two-day visit with her college of commissioners,

India and the EU must take their strategic ties to the "next level" in an era of great power competition and geopolitical turmoils and the relationship has the potential to be one of the defining partnerships of this century,

Highlighting the need to bolster cooperation between new Delhi and Brussels in the areas of digital technology, Artificial Intelligence and defence, EU President Ursula von der Leyen termed India as a "pillar of certainty" for Europe in an "increasingly uncertain world".

Von der Leyen is in India with 22 members of the 27-strong EU College of Commissioners for the first such visit to a non-European nation since she got a fresh mandate last year

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday the European Union and India will work to finalize a free-trade agreement in 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday agreed to seal a much-awaited free trade deal by this year and boost technology and defence cooperation --