US EditionEU Chief Ursula Arrives in New Delhi, to Be Chief Guest for India’s 77th Republic Day
EU leaders attend India's Republic Day as trade talks near completion and a strategic security partnership is set to be formalized, boosting economic and defense ties.
- On January 25, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa arrived in New Delhi as chief guests for Republic Day on Kartavya Path.
- Von der Leyen framed the visit around finalising a long‑delayed trade pact, with both sides saying an EU‑India free trade deal is close after nearly 20 years of negotiations, and she called it 'the mother of all deals' earlier this week.
- India's goods trade with the EU totaled about $136 billion in 2024‑25, with around 10,000 special guests attending the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path.
- Holding summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 27, 2026, von der Leyen and Costa aim to press for a trade signing and unveil a Security and Defence Strategic Partnership.
- Seen as a diplomatic signal, the joint invitation marks a shift in India's engagement with the EU as the first joint EU leadership appearance highlights New Delhi's intent to deepen institutional ties amid global trade uncertainty.
59 Articles
59 Articles
India celebrates 77th Republic Day: Everything you need to know about this years Chief Guests - The Tribune
As India celebrates its 77th Republic Day, featuring an extraordinary blend of the 150-year legacy of Vande Mataram, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa are the Chief Guests as India marks its celebrations.
El Periódico
Brussels and New Delhi aim to create one of the largest free trade zones in the world, covering almost 2 billion people and accounting for one quarter of global GDP
"We are on the threshold of a historic trade agreement," said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, this week.
Beginning of a new era: India-EU set to enter a set of productive relations
As New Delhi gears up to welcome the top leadership of the European Union as the chief guest for this week’s Republic Day celebrations and the upcoming summit, the signals from Brussels are increasingly positive. India and the European Union are set to announce the conclusion of a free trade agreement, the firming up of a defence partnership pact, and a framework for the mobility of Indian professionals at the summit talks next week. A military …
Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, are currently in India to sign an extensive trade agreement and a security and defence partnership.
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