Jaishankar Concludes Brussels Visit with EU Leaders on FTA and Security

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S. Jaishankar has concluded a two-day official visit to Brussels. There, he met the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission. He also met EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and foreign ministers of EU member states. The meetings advanced implementation of the recently concluded India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Security and Defence Partnership. They aligned positions on connectivity, supply chains and key regional developments. In a detailed post on X, reposted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Dr Jaishankar described it as a "productive visit to Brussels". The visit centred on the European Union Foreign Affairs Council and high-level engagements with EU leaders.

India–EU ties deepen with focus on trade, technology, and resilient supply chains.

High‑level meetings with EU leadership

Dr Jaishankar called on European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during his stay in Brussels on 15–16 March 2026. In his wrap‑up message on social media, he recorded that he met the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, called on President Costa and President von der Leyen, and held talks with EU High Representative and Vice‑President Kaja Kallas, alongside a series of bilateral discussions with other EU counterparts.

Dr Jaishankar stated that he was “delighted to call on” President Costa in Brussels and conveyed India’s deep appreciation for Costa’s guidance and support in taking India–EU ties to a new level.​

Trade, technology and economic co‑operation

In his post summarising “ten key messages” from the Brussels consultations, Dr Jaishankar described the finalisation of the India–EU FTA as a “turning point in ties” that will “unlock its enormous economic potential” and reflect the strategic nature of the partnership. He stressed that, to realise the gains of the FTA on the ground, India and the EU should proactively assist each other in practical activities, including trade and investment promotion.​

President Ursula von der Leyen recalled in her post on X that the FTA and a Security and Defence Partnership were concluded at the EU–India Summit in January and referred to the FTA as “the mother of all deals”, emphasising that both sides are now focused on its efficient implementation to deliver benefits for people in Europe and India as soon as possible.

Dr Jaishankar said the India–EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) could be strengthened to boost cooperation in advanced technologies. He also highlighted the shared goal of making supply chains more secure and resilient, adding that the FTA would help deepen business ties between India and the EU.

Security, defence and connectivity priorities

Among the messages set out in his post, Dr Jaishankar stated that India and the EU will take forward their Security and Defence Partnership and endeavour to conclude a Security of Information Agreement at an early date. President von der Leyen’s post similarly underlined that, alongside the FTA, the Security and Defence Partnership agreed at the January summit is a key element of the evolving relationship.

Connectivity also featured prominently in Dr Jaishankar’s summary, where he indicated that India and the EU will work together to give practical shape to the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and other such initiatives. He added that the recent establishment of the European Legal Gateway Office in India and the promotion of Global Capability Centres in India form part of a broader effort to support mobility of skills and talent flows between the two sides.​

India–EU partnership advances through security, connectivity, and talent mobility.

Engagement with EU High Representative and Member States: Jaishankar Concludes Brussels Visit

On his engagement with EU High Representative and Vice‑President Kaja Kallas, Dr Jaishankar wrote that he held a “wrap‑up meeting” with her in Brussels, thanked her for inviting him to the Foreign Affairs Council meeting and described their conversations on various bilateral and global issues as “enriching”, noting that both agreed to maintain “close and continuing contact”. The European External Action Service recorded on its official handle that HR/VP Kallas met Dr Jaishankar in Brussels on the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council.

Dr Jaishankar met Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár and Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Brussels on 16 March 2026, with each engagement listed as a separate meeting where he “met” or “held discussions” with his counterpart. These bilateral interactions formed part of the broader outreach with EU member states alongside his participation in the Foreign Affairs Council.​

Shared approach to regional and global issues

President von der Leyen stated that, in Brussels, she and Dr Jaishankar also discussed developments in the Middle East and in Ukraine, identifying de‑escalation, stability and energy security as shared objectives. In his own summary, Dr Jaishankar concluded that, in a “multipolar and uncertain world”, the India–EU partnership will act as a factor of stability and resilience and will be carried forward through close and regular consultations at leadership level, supported by domain‑specific mechanisms.