June 16, 2025 10:45 am Ist
Posted for the first time on: June 16, 2025 at 09:52 Ist
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The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week in Cyprus and Croatia, members of the European Union (EU), was preceded by the visit of the Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar in France, the EU and Belgium last week and in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany earlier in May. Bilateral relations evolve rapidly, anchored in the India-EU strategic partnership.
In February, during the visit of Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission and the college of the commissioners of the EU in India, the two parties had hosted increasing cooperation of defense, in particular joint exercises and a collaboration between the maritime security entities of the Indian Navy and the EU. The two parties had also committed to exploring a security and defense partnership. In this context, we must closely examine the possibilities of deepening the partnership provided by the joint white paper (WP) on European Defense – Rearensiness 2030, published by the European Commission in March.
The new political approach described by WP has undoubtedly been caused by the prolonged war in Ukraine and recent stress in the transatlantic partnership with the United States. The main push of the WP is to support the Member States to obtain complete defense preparation by 2030. The objective is to mobilize additional defense expenses of up to 1.5% of GDP. Based on the projections of progressive progression, defense investments could reach at least 800 billion euros over the next four years.
The scope of the WP highlights the opportunities for the Indian defense industries to acquire or establish start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe.
Europe and India have recently been tested for their defense preparation. In the short term, the emphasis is placed on Europe on the reconstruction of stocks of ammunition, weapons and military equipment. This can provide an opening to India to export ammunition to Europe.
The Indian defense sector received a boost the day after military tensions with China and, more recently, with Pakistan. India’s defense exports reached a record summit of approximately RS 23,622 crores (2.76 billion US dollars) during the year 2024-25. A foundation was laid for a higher quantum of exports in the future.
In the wake of high-level visits this year, India should endeavor to explore the sales of advanced artillery cannons (ATAG), the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, air defense missiles and radars that meet NATO standards. The objective in WP on critical and fundamental technologies – such as artificial intelligence, quantum, biotechnologies and hypersonic technologies – and their classification as a double use with economic and military implications offers India a chance to collaborate with EU member states.
The underlying strong current of WP engagement to improve the defense and security capacities of Ukraine is remarkable. The new policy is oriented towards the sharing of EU military mobility corridors, space assets and services with Ukraine. The key therefore lies in Indian companies being part of the EU landscape, and perhaps also in Ukraine, at an early stage of the internal integration process and harmonization of the regulatory framework. India should explore opportunities for acquisitions and joint research in defense technologies. As such, the EU has welcomed the interest of India to join projects as part of its permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) and to engage in negotiations for an information security agreement (ENIA).
India should study closely the evolution of the EU defense preparation model and adopt best practices to refine its own roadmap towards Atmanirbharta in air mobility – in particular the development of manufacturing and maintenance of national civil transport aircraft, repair and revision centers. The OMNIBus Defense Package of the EU offers India a chance to collaborate with the EU on the cross -certification of defense products and mutual recognition of certification, creating the basis of a future market for military and double -use products.
Changes in the EU can also provide employment possibilities to Indian qualified professionals to work in the industrial defense complex across the EU. It is essential for India to hire each member of the EU on matters of migration and mobility in the context of the current negotiations of the ALE.
EU harmonization of defense purchase rules and procedures could cause changes in export regulations. The main European producers of defense equipment could find their capacities involved in national needs or in the Rearm Europe plan. India should examine the impact, if necessary, on its supply chains from Europe.
India could explore the possibility of joining the EU defense innovation scheme (EUDIS), from its experience in initiatives such as Industry X with the United States-although this may require special arrangements, because entities participating in EUDIS projects must generally be located in the EU or Norway with local identity and control. In addition, by emphasizing infrastructure in WP, Indian engineering, supply and construction companies should explore the potential for obtaining contracts for the expansion of EU multimodal corridors, including ports and terminals.
The emergence of the EU Defense Union will mark an increase in all European defense and security structures. The rapid reset of Europe is considered a bulwark against Russia, reaffirming the strategic autonomy of Europe by ensuring that in Ukraine, and by strengthening the contributions of the defense of the EU to the still valid transatlantic partnership. As a worldwide world power and a strategically autonomous pole, India should invest strongly in partnership with the EU.
The writer is the Managing Director of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyzes
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