Defence & SecurityImportant2026-01-27

EU-India Security and Defence Partnership Signed

Q: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the EU-India Security and Defence Partnership?

1 only — Statement 1 is correct as the partnership establishes a formal framework for cooperation in maritime security, cyber domains, and defence technology. Statement 2 (assumed in the logic that India had no prior naval exercises with the EU) is incorrect, as India and the EU have previously conducted joint naval exercises, such as those involving EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta.

In News

What Happened

On January 27, 2026, the European Union and India formally signed a Security and Defence Partnership during the EU-India Summit. The agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for structured dialogue and cooperation across maritime security, cyber domains, counter-terrorism, and defence technology. This marks a significant elevation of the strategic relationship between the two entities.

Why It Matters

This partnership is vital for India as it diversifies its defence engagements beyond traditional partners amid growing global geopolitical instability. It strengthens India's presence in the Indo-Pacific by enhancing maritime domain awareness and securing critical sea lanes, aligning with its vision of a rules-based international order.

Background

History & Context

The EU-India relationship, elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2004, was historically dominated by trade, climate, and soft-power diplomacy. A pivot toward hard security began with the adoption of the 'EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025' in 2020, which emphasized maritime security and counter-terrorism. Building upon the momentum of the 2022 EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and increasing joint naval exercises like those with EUNAVFOR Atalanta, this 2026 agreement formalizes defence as a core pillar of bilateral ties.

What Changed

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BEFORE: Defence cooperation was highly fragmented, with India relying primarily on bilateral agreements with individual European nations like France or Germany. NOW: A unified, bloc-level institutional framework exists directly between New Delhi and Brussels for comprehensive defence cooperation.
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BEFORE: Coordination on non-traditional security threats such as cyber and space was largely ad-hoc and informal. NOW: The partnership mandates structured, regular dialogues and joint capacity-building mechanisms specifically for cyber security, space, and counter-terrorism.
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BEFORE: Maritime security engagement was limited to sporadic joint exercises and localized anti-piracy operations. NOW: Continuous information sharing and coordinated patrols are integrated to establish robust Indo-Pacific maritime domain awareness.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This development connects to Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 (Alternative Centres of Power), which discusses the European Union's evolution from a purely economic bloc into a global political and security actor. The partnership illustrates India's strategic engagement with alternative global power centers to manage non-traditional security threats and uphold a rules-based international order.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the EU-India Security and Defence Partnership?

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