Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) – The European Union’s top diplomat warned Wednesday that its push for closer ties with India could be hampered by New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil and involvement in military drills with Moscow. The 27-nation bloc is pressing to seal a trade deal with the world’s most populous nation and strengthen bonds in areas like defence, especially as US President Donald Trump has rocked the global order.
“Ultimately, our partnership is not only about trade, but also about defending the rules-based international order,” EU foreign policy chief Kallas said, as she unveiled a new strategy from Brussels to bolster relations. “Participating in military exercises, purchases of oil — all these are obstacles to our cooperation when it comes to deepening the ties,” Kallas stated. However, she acknowledged that the EU did not believe India would “completely decouple” from Russia and that both sides sought to address their differences through dialogue.
Alongside other Moscow allies, including Iran, India has participated in Russia’s Zapad (West) joint drills with Belarus this month, part of which occurred close to NATO borders. India has become a major buyer of Russian oil, saving itself billions of dollars and providing a much-needed export market for Moscow after it was cut off from traditional buyers in Europe due to the Ukraine war.
US President Donald Trump last week urged the EU to impose hefty tariffs on India and China to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict. However, EU diplomats maintain that such measures are unlikely while Brussels pursues a trade deal with New Delhi, although steps against Russian entities in India could be taken, similar to a previous sanctions package against Moscow.
Despite the lack of alignment over Russia, the European Union and India are also working to conclude talks on a free trade agreement by the end of 2025, amid New Delhi’s own tensions with Washington. Relations between the US and India have soured since Trump raised tariffs on most Indian exports to 50 percent last month in retaliation for New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. Following this move, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly showcased warmth towards Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping at a summit this month.
On the trade talks, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen asserted in a post on X that “now is the time to double down on partnerships,” as she reiterated the hope of finalizing the trade deal by the end of this year. However, her trade chief Maros Sefcovic offered a more cautious perspective, noting he had “hoped for more progress to be achieved” during a visit to India last week. He emphasized that it is important to deepen EU ties with various countries; otherwise, “this void is filled by China and other actors.”
The EU is India’s largest trading partner, with trade between the two economic giants having increased by 90 percent over the past decade, Sefcovic mentioned alongside Kallas in Brussels. Senior figures from both India and the European Union hope to meet for a high-level summit early next year.
© 2024 AFP
