India-EU Ties Strengthen After Jaishankar’s Brussels Visit

Brussels, March 17, 2026: S. Jaishankar concluded his official visit to Brussels, marking a significant step in strengthening India-EU relations. The visit took place on March 15–16 at the invitation of Kaja Kallas.

High-Level Engagement Boosts India-EU Relations

Firstly, the visit followed the recent India-EU Summit 2026, which created strong momentum in bilateral ties. Therefore, Jaishankar’s meetings focused on advancing key strategic priorities.

He conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to EU leadership.

Key Meetings with EU Leadership

During the visit, Jaishankar met top EU leaders, including:

Antonio Costa
Ursula von der Leyen

Moreover, discussions focused on:

Fast-tracking the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
Strengthening economic and strategic cooperation
Addressing global issues like West Asia tensions and the Ukraine crisis

Focus on Trade, Defence and Technology

In addition, Jaishankar participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. The session included foreign ministers of EU member states.

He emphasized:

Unlocking the full potential of the FTA
Expanding defence and maritime cooperation
Strengthening the Trade and Technology Council
Promoting green energy and sustainable development

Strategic Dialogue and Future Cooperation

Meanwhile, Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Kaja Kallas. Both leaders agreed to elevate India-EU cooperation to a higher strategic level.

They also decided to:

Convene the next Trade and Technology Council soon
Strengthen strategic dialogue mechanisms

Bilateral Talks with European Nations

Furthermore, Jaishankar met foreign ministers from several countries, including:

Belgium
Germany
Greece
Netherlands
Cyprus
Slovakia

These discussions covered trade, defence, critical technologies, and people-to-people ties.

Notably, India and Belgium agreed to establish a Strategic Dialogue at the ministerial level.

Growing Strategic Momentum

Overall, India-EU relations are entering a new phase of strategic growth and deeper cooperation. Both sides aim to implement the ‘Towards 2030: Joint India-EU Strategic Agenda’ effectively.