India–EU Defence Breakthrough: How a Shangri-La Meet Is Rewriting Asia's Security Map

India used the IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore as a platform to advance its defence partnership with the European Union. According to All India Radio, Indian officials held key defence discussions with EU representatives on the sidelines of the summit.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, organised annually by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, is Asia's premier defence and security forum, bringing together defence ministers, military chiefs and senior officials from across the Indo-Pacific, Europe and beyond to discuss regional security challenges and strategic cooperation. These discussions come as New Delhi and Brussels move to implement their newly signed Security and Defence Partnership—the first overarching framework for India–EU cooperation in security and defence.

India & EU: A New Era of Defence

India–EU defence dialogue at Shangri-La

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held key discussions with European Union counterparts on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue, emphasising India's commitment to structured defence cooperation with the EU. During his Singapore visit, Defence Secretary Singh outlined India's vision of "defence diplomacy for a stable, secure and inclusive Indo-Pacific," engaging on Indo-Pacific security architecture, defence industrial collaboration and emerging technology partnerships. This strategic agenda frames India–EU conversations around shared interests in maritime security, resilience and rules-based order.

Security and Defence Partnership as the anchor

On 27 January 2026, the European Union and India signed a Security and Defence Partnership at the EU–India Summit in New Delhi, establishing the first comprehensive framework for their cooperation in peace, security and defence. The European External Action Service (EEAS)—the EU's diplomatic service—states the partnership will "structure EU and India's dialogue and cooperation on security and defence" and address an increasingly challenging strategic environment.

The framework covers maritime security, cyber issues, counterterrorism, hybrid threats, protection of critical infrastructure, space security, defence industry cooperation and capacity-building for partners. EU High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas described the agreement as marking "a new phase of EU–India relations," emphasising expanded cooperation in maritime security, counterterrorism and cyber-defence as both sides "see the world changing in similar ways and are responding together."

India & EU: Stregthening the Security Partnership

Indo-Pacific and maritime security focus

EU and Indian statements consistently highlight converging priorities in the Indo-Pacific, particularly the need for a free, open and rules-based maritime environment. Indian and EU leaders have welcomed cooperation between the Indian Navy and EU naval forces, including joint anti-piracy activities and broader coordination under programmes enhancing security cooperation in Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Both sides stress shared interests in addressing cross-border terrorism, cyber-attacks and threats to critical infrastructure—core issues in recent India–EU security and defence dialogues. Officials on both sides describe India and the EU as "natural partners" in security and defence cooperation, reflecting regular consultations and specialised dialogues on counterterrorism, maritime security, cyber security and non-proliferation.

Institutionalised dialogues and next steps

The Security and Defence Partnership provides for an annual EU–India Security and Defence Dialogue, supported by thematic exchanges and consultations on shared challenges. It builds on existing mechanisms including annual Security and Defence Consultations, the Strategic Dialogue on Foreign and Security Policy launched in 2025, and working groups on counterterrorism. India's Shangri-La Dialogue outreach to the European Union reinforces the shift from ad hoc engagements to regular, structured cooperation under this mutually agreed framework.