The time is ripe for India to join nations with common interest, while swaying away from impulsive partners and rouge nations

The EU-India cooperation has witnessed a major transformation, especially in the security and defence sector over the last decade or so. On the back of an agreement signed in 1994, the bilateral relationship has gone beyond trade and economic cooperation. The relationship was elevated to a ‘Strategic Partnership’ at the 5th India-EU Summit in 2004.

Recently, India and the EU decided to renew the agreement on Scientific Cooperation for the next five years during the virtual 15th India-EU summit. It came in the backdrop of two big decisions taken by the US in the last 20 days pertaining to the issue of giving visas to the students enrolled in schools or programs that could directly impact the Indian nationals.

In the past, the US-India relations have often fluctuated. The US withdrew certain trade privileges from India in 2018 and imposed higher tariffs on steel and aluminium products. On the other hand, China has always been an aggressive power and the recent scuffle has further increased the trust deficit. China’s design in South Asia is also seen with suspicion. The country is consolidating its position in India’s neighbourhood, by influencing countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and other island nations in the Indian Ocean.

This is where it becomes important to seize the full potential of the EU-India strategic partnership and build a strong partnership for sustainable growth, benefitting both the sides. India must consolidate its position in the current scenario, based on multilateralism, backed by the UN and the WTO. The recent agreement will enhance research and innovation cooperation of India in different fields, including Energy, Healthcare, Agritech & Bioeconomy, water, Integrated Cyber-Physical Systems, Information and Communication Technologies, etc.

However, when it comes to critical infrastructure, India needs to safeguard the new battlefield from rouge nations on its own, with little help from Europe. India is facing serious cyber threats and Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) must be on the top priority. The security cooperation between India and the EU can play a pivotal role in addressing this growing threat, as the former can learn to establish effective programs through this collaboration.

Furthermore, India and the EU are ideal partners to make a difference in an international environment. For India though, it will be more about swaying away from the trade war between the US and China and joining nations with common interests.