New Delhi, Jan 21 (NationPress) In light of the challenges presented by the current US administration, Europe has become a crucial ally for India. Recent developments in transatlantic relations have elevated India's significance as a partner for Europe, as outlined in a report released on Wednesday.

“India has extended an invitation to the European Union to be the Chief Guest at the R-Day celebrations in 2026, represented by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council. The India-EU FTA is anticipated to be signed on January 27. This agreement will be forged against the backdrop of a growing EU-US divide. As noted by author and former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal in ‘India Narrative’, we will be signing the agreement with a beleaguered Europe,” he explained.

“A significant advancement in our relations with the EU will transpire when Europe's political, economic, and security landscape shifts. Europe will need to recalibrate itself regardless of the outcome of its conflicts with the US,” he added.

The experienced diplomat underscored that Trump's treatment of Europe has been harsher than his approach to India.

“Trump has raised questions about NATO's relevance, which has been the cornerstone of European security. In India, concerns arise that Trump may not be as dedicated to the Quad as he was during his first term and in the early weeks of his second term. However, the Quad is not as critical to India’s security as NATO is to Europe,” he emphasized.

Sibal noted that Europe’s “colossal failure” in managing Trump overshadows India's shortcomings in dealing with the US President. The article pointed out that Europe’s reliance on the US for security has come at a significantly higher cost compared to India's investment in its security partnership with the US, both bilaterally and within the Quad framework.

“Certain European nations, especially France, advocate for strategic autonomy for Europe, yet there is no consensus on this ambition within Europe, as maintaining autonomy within an alliance system is inherently contradictory. India, on the other hand, has preserved its strategic autonomy in the face of the Trump challenge,” it noted.

The report highlighted that recent events, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India for the India-Russia Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in last year's SCO summit in China, India chairing BRICS in 2026, and hosting the BRICS summit, alongside India's efforts to strengthen ties with the US despite trade disagreements, illustrate India's commitment to exercising “strategic autonomy”.