India and the European Union (EU) formalised a significant Security and Defence Partnership on 27th January, a development that occurred concurrently with the widely reported free trade agreement between the two entities. The defence pact aims to enhance collaboration across maritime security, counter-terrorism, and cyber defence.

This new partnership addresses India’s growing defence requirements, driven by evolving regional security dynamics and challenges in its traditional defence procurement avenues. While the economic trade agreement garnered substantial media attention, the defence accord signals a strategic recalibration in India’s foreign policy and security posture.

India’s Defence Imperatives

India faces persistent security concerns stemming from its borders with Pakistan and China, with which it has experienced militarised conflicts in recent years. This geopolitical environment necessitates a robust and reliable defence infrastructure to counter a perceived Sino-Pakistani strategic nexus.

Shifting Procurement Landscape

Historically, India heavily relied on the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia for a significant proportion of its defence matériel, with 60 to 70 per cent of its arsenal being of Soviet or Russian origin even three decades post-Cold War. However, a noticeable diversification of suppliers has accelerated in the past decade. This shift is partly due to Russia’s changing policies regarding concessional rates and more recently, its inability to deliver on existing defence contracts due to its own military needs in the conflict in Ukraine.

Concurrently, procurement efforts from other sources have faced complications. While India has acquired over $20 billion worth of military equipment from the United States since 2008 and purchased 36 French-built Dassault Rafale aircraft in 2016, issues such as trade disputes and tariffs have introduced uncertainties with certain suppliers. Domestic defence production also faces challenges, as highlighted by acknowledgements from the Indian Air Force regarding persistent delays from state-owned enterprises like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Deepening European Ties

Under these circumstances, European nations are emerging as increasingly vital defence partners for India. Building upon an existing relationship with France, India is also reportedly nearing an agreement to acquire submarines from Germany, crucial for bolstering its naval capabilities in the Indian Ocean, given the increasing Chinese naval presence. The EU defence agreement, while not immediately committing to military hardware purchases, signifies India’s proactive interest in forging broader security partnerships beyond mere procurement to guarantee national security.

Strategic Implications

This agreement aligns with India’s long-standing foreign policy objective of fostering a multipolar international order, which its elites believe provides New Delhi with greater strategic autonomy and room to manoeuvre in global politics. The challenge now for both Brussels and New Delhi will be to translate the intentions outlined in the agreement into tangible, substantive cooperation, potentially contributing to regional and global stability amidst evolving international dynamics.