Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India’s relations with major powers, Issue: Significance of the India and Europe relationship.
Context:
Deepening of India-Europe ties is significant amid a changing global order marked by disorder, divergence, and the decline of old alliances. The strategic, economic, and political value of this partnership is crucial in a multipolar world.
Key Highlights:
- Purposeful Engagement: Historical civilizational ties and shared values make India-Europe ties a natural fit. The current geopolitical flux makes such engagement timely and necessary.
- Renewed Diplomatic Focus: PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar’s outreach to Europe is a strategic pivot which acknowledges Europe’s enduring economic and political significance.
- A New Partnership Order: As U.S. isolationism under Trump weakened the transatlantic alliance, European powers are now recalibrating foreign policies for strategic independence (such as UK’s post-Brexit realignment).
- Pursuit of strategic autonomy: France and Germany are now seeking strategic autonomy while Macron’s leadership advocates for an independent European foreign policy. India is a potential partner in this regard.
- Shared Strategic Vision:
- India and Europe promote multilateralism, international law, inclusive values, and pluralism.
- EU’s India strategy includes cooperation in trade, technology, security, and climate change.
- India is also enhancing ties with France, Germany, Italy, Nordics, and Eastern Europe signal Europe’s growing interest in India.
Economic Ties as an Opportunity:
- Bilateral Trade Potential: From 2015 to 2022, India and Europe investment grew by 87% whereas EU now accounts for 37% of India’s exports.
- Trade and tech push: The India and Europe trade and tech agreements must consider equity and not serve as veiled protectionism (Such as EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism).
- Further potential: India’s share in European trade is still modest and has room for growth.
Technological Convergence:
- Collaboration: The partnership has scope for collaboration in emerging technologies like AI, green energy, clean tech.
- Defence partnership: Europe is a key defence and counter-terrorism partner for India.
- Arenas of cooperation: Platforms such as WTO reforms, UN reforms, G7 cooperation, and Digital partnerships.
Public Perception and mindset shift:
- Move beyond formal approach: Relationship must go beyond summits; public perception, media, and strategic communication matter.
- Equal role: Europe must view India as a strategic equal, not just a market or developing power.
- Perception management: Public diplomacy and narrative building are crucial for building people to people ties.
Conclusion:
India-Europe ties are vital for shaping a rule-based, equitable, and multipolar world. Shared commitment to democratic values, strategic autonomy, and innovation makes the partnership indispensable. Time is ripe now to convert civilizational depth into a forward-looking strategic alliance.
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