EU leaders attend India’s Republic Day; New Delhi hosts summit talks on Jan 27
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa attended India’s Republic Day parade as chief guests and travelled to New Delhi for the 16th EU–India Summit scheduled for January 27, 2026. The EU said the summit agenda includes trade, security and defence, the clean transition, and people-to-people cooperation.
A high-profile EU visit to New Delhi
The European Union announced that European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled to India to represent the EU at the 16th EU–India Summit in New Delhi on January 27, 2026. The visit also coincided with India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26, where the two leaders participated as guests of honour, signalling a stronger political push behind the strategic partnership.
In its press communication, the EU described India as a crucial partner and framed the meetings as an opportunity to advance cooperation amid global uncertainty. The EU statement indicated that the leaders would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and focus on building progress across several policy tracks, with the summit positioned as a key milestone for the relationship.
What the summit agenda covers
According to the European Council’s press release, discussions at the summit are expected to cover trade, security and defence cooperation, the clean transition, and people-to-people ties. The EU also referred to broader connectivity and global issues as part of the partnership’s direction, reflecting ongoing coordination in technology and innovation as well as strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
The EU described the Republic Day appearance as symbolically important, noting that it marked a first for EU leaders attending the parade as guests of honour. The public messaging underscored that institutional links have deepened through platforms and initiatives that encourage investment, collaboration, and joint approaches to shared challenges.
Why this matters internationally
For India, a high-level EU presence at Republic Day adds diplomatic weight to ongoing negotiations and strategic engagement with Europe. For the EU, the trip reflects its effort to strengthen partnerships with large democracies and diversify trade and technology collaboration while maintaining focus on security and the energy transition.
Both sides framed the summit as a platform to convert political intent into deliverables. The meetings in New Delhi on January 27, 2026 are expected to clarify priorities and timelines on major cooperation themes, while the Republic Day participation provided a public marker of growing alignment.