Russia’s shadow looms over EU–India ties

THE European Union has sent a clear signal of intent: it wants to deepen its strategic and trade ties with India. On the face of it, this is a natural progression. India is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, a major Indo-Pacific player, and a potential counterweight to China. Yet the road ahead is far from smooth, for India’s longstanding ties with Russia cast a long shadow over the New Delhi–Brussels equation. India’s relationship with Russia has been defined by decades of defence cooperation and, more recently, discounted oil imports that helped cushion inflationary shocks. At the same time, India has been expanding cooperation with Europe — France on fighter jets and submarines, Germany on green hydrogen and the EU bloc on trade negotiations. The challenge lies in balancing these axes without being forced into choosing one over the other.