EU Commission Chief Visits India, Says Russia-Ukraine War Threat To Democracy

Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission who visited India for a two-day visit from April 24-25^th, met the Presidnt and Prime Minister Narendra Modil with the agenda of “strengthening bilateral cooperation” in various areas. India and the EU established a Joint Trade and Technology Council and a free trade agreement between New Delhi and Brussels.

The main focus of the talks between the EU Commission chief and PM Modi were  climate change, digital technology, and trade. She also sought to encourage New Delhi to distance itself more pronouncedly from Moscow.

The summit was held on the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relationship between India and the European Union, which was preceded by the ‘European Community’ (EC) formed in 1957.

I’m off to New Delhi as we celebrate 60 years of ???????????????? relations.

60 years during which we built a solid friendship.

And a cooperation that we now both want to take to the next level.

Looking forward to my discussions with @narendramodi

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 23, 2022

Von der Leyen pointed out that despite the fact that the EU is one of the largest investors in India, there is still a lot of “untapped potential”. To this end, the two sides will begin deliberations on an Investment Protection Agreement, and Agreement on Geographical Indications which governs intellectual property rights.

The joint statement is available here. India and the EU "agreed that rapid changes in the geopolitical environment highlight the need for joint in-depth strategic engagement."

Russia-Ukraine War Represents Threat To 'Democracies', 'Free And Open Societies' 

Von der Lyen stressed that the stated “no limits partnership” between Russia and China was against India’s interests, and sought to make New Delhi switch sides from Russia to the Western bloc. This follows the visits of US and British diplomats to make the same pitch.

In her speech at the Raisina Dialogue, she opened with saying: “Every five years, when Indians are casting their vote in Parliamentary elections, the world watches with admiration as the world's largest democracy charts its future path”, adding: “Democracy was born more than 2,000 years ago in Europe. But today, its largest home is India.”

Russia and China have declared that the friendship between them has “no limits.”⁰
That there are “no forbidden areas of cooperation”; this was in February.

Just before the invasion of Ukraine.

What can we expect from the “new international relations” that both have called for? pic.twitter.com/zzZJoFQBzG

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 25, 2022

She said that "The reality is that the core principles that underpin peace and security across the world are at stake”. India and the EU will also jointly benefit from a “free” Indo-Pacific region, and called out China’s alleged ‘debt-trap diplomacy’, promoting the EU’s Global Gateway Program that invests €300 billion in partner countries.