Year-end timeline set for completion of India-EU FTA seems ‘feasible’: S Jaishankar

12 Jun 2025 Evaluate

Expressing an optimism over India-EU free trade agreement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that India places a high priority to its relations with the European Union, the centrepiece of which is the Free Trade Agreement negotiations that are making very good progress. The external affairs minister expressed confidence that the year-end timeline set for the completion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) seems ‘feasible’ following his in-depth talks with EU officials. He also highlighted the strength of the two-way relationship that goes beyond trade to cover aspects of defence and security, mobility, talent flows and education.

He said ‘I would give it (India-EU ties) pretty high priority... right now you catch us at a very important moment. We had the (EU) College of Commissioners, very soon after they came into office, visit India collectively. We know that's a very unusual and very positive step, and we are really looking at deepening our ties. So, the centrepiece is the FTA, which has been under negotiation for some time now but everything I have heard... I think we are making very good progress.’

The conversation session at the high-profile the German Marshall Fund (GMF) Forum covered a broad spectrum of issues governing India's foreign policy perspectives, from its relations with the US and closer in its neighbourhood with China. Jaishankar said ‘We are conditioned to deal with situations and challenges, think it through for ourselves and essentially make decisions based on what capabilities we have and what we are able to leverage from the world. And that's because we have never been an alliance partner. So, by the nature of our foreign policy structure, our strategic choices, we sort of have that mindset and approach’. 

Contrasting this with Europe's history and experiences, he noted that India is accustomed to dealing with shifting geopolitical realities and any 'trans-Atlantic divergences' in outlooks that emerge. He said ‘We are objective about it. We value our relations with the US, as we do with the EU, we will deal with each one on terms which are best for both of us’.

© 2025 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×