India and the European Union (EU) are preparing for their next round of bilateral security and defence consultations in New Delhi, scheduled for early May. The talks signal a deepening strategic partnership, with particular emphasis on space security and potential collaboration within the defence industry.
The upcoming consultations will build on the groundwork laid during the inaugural talks in 2022, which covered security issues in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and India’s neighborhood.
During those initial talks, the two sides also discussed ways to increase India-EU cooperation on maritime security, ways to implement the European code of conduct on arms exports to India's neighborhood, and cooperation in the co-development and co-production of defence equipment – including the possibility of India participating in the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO).
PESCO, established in 2017, promotes deeper security and military coordination among EU member states. India's involvement would be a significant milestone in the India-EU security relationship.
The growing India-EU security partnership reflects a shared interest in addressing evolving global security challenges. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine heightened security concerns in Europe, the EU has sought closer ties with India's defence industry. India maintains traditional defence ties with major EU powers like France.
In recent years, collaboration has increased in other areas as well. In 2020, India and the EU launched a joint roadmap to 2025 strengthening military-to-military relations, counter-piracy efforts, peacekeeping, and dialogues on nuclear proliferation and disarmament. They have also initiated dialogues on maritime security and defence in addition to ongoing discussions around cyber security and counter-terrorism.
In 2023, the EU appointed a defence attache to its New Delhi mission and India and the EU conducted their first joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Guinea.
The EU is also pursuing wider Indo-Pacific security initiatives. The CRIMARIO initiative aims to boost maritime domain awareness capabilities for countries in the region. India also participates in the EU's Enhancing Security In and With Asia (ESIWA) program, focused on tackling cyber security, maritime security, and counter-terrorism challenges.
An EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific highlighted the value of exploring space security cooperation between India and the EU, noting that both sides have significant interests in the space domain.
