Jaishankar discusses West Asia, supply chains with top EU leaders in Brussels

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held talks with top European Union leaders in Brussels, focusing on the situation in West Asia, maritime security, resilient supply chains and expanding the India-EU strategic partnership, as India stepped up efforts to deepen trade and technology cooperation with the bloc.

Jaishankar began his Brussels visit with a meeting with the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. The two leaders discussed the evolving situation in West Asia and stressed the need to ensure peace and stability in the region.

They also exchanged views on safeguarding safe and unimpeded maritime commerce, amid continuing concerns over disruptions to global shipping routes, while underscoring the importance of strengthening the India-EU Strategic Partnership to build resilient supply chains.

In a separate engagement, Jaishankar, accompanied by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada and Principal Scientific Adviser Prof Ajay K Sood, called on European Council President António Costa.

The EAM conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings to Costa and said the discussions reviewed the significant progress made in India-EU ties since the India-EU Summit held earlier this year. The leaders also discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in trade and technology.

The meetings come ahead of the third India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Ministerial Meeting in Brussels, where Jaishankar and Goyal are representing India along with Prasada. The TTC is the highest institutional mechanism between India and the European Union for cooperation on trade, trusted technology and economic security.

Goyal is currently leading a high-level Indian business delegation on a five-day visit to Spain, Belgium and Finland aimed at expanding trade, investment and technology partnerships with Europe.

In Belgium, the Commerce Minister is scheduled to participate in the India-EU Business Roundtable, hold meetings with senior EU and Belgian leaders, and visit the Port of Antwerp and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre to explore collaboration in logistics, resilient supply chains and the gems and jewellery sector.

The European visit comes as India and the EU seek to accelerate negotiations on the proposed Free Trade Agreement while broadening cooperation in clean energy, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and innovation. Both sides have identified resilient supply chains and emerging technologies as key pillars of their expanding strategic partnership.