EU leaders to attend India’s Republic Day events ahead of 27 January EU–India summit in New Delhi
The EU has confirmed that European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to India for the 16th EU–India Summit on 27 January 2026, and will also participate as guests of honour at India’s Republic Day parade on 26 January—an unprecedented signal of deepening ties.
What the EU has announced
The European Council said European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit India to represent the European Union at the 16th EU–India Summit scheduled for 27 January 2026 in New Delhi. The leaders are expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advance discussions across multiple areas of the EU–India strategic partnership.
In a move being closely watched by diplomats and policy observers, the EU statement also said Costa and von der Leyen will participate as guests of honour at India’s 77th Republic Day parade on 26 January 2026. The EU described this as a first: EU leaders attending the Republic Day parade as guests of honour, underscoring a symbolic upgrade in bilateral engagement.
Key themes likely to dominate the summit
According to the EU’s announcement, summit discussions are expected to focus on trade, security and defence, the clean transition, and people-to-people cooperation. The EU has also pointed to a broader strategic agenda endorsed in 2025, with pillars that include prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity plus global issues.
For India, the timing is significant: the summit and Republic Day participation come as New Delhi tries to expand high-value partnerships in Europe, reduce single-market dependencies in sensitive technologies, and strengthen cooperation in defence production and supply chains. For the EU, the visit signals a push to work more closely with India on rules-based order, resilience, and long-term economic engagement.
Why this matters internationally
The optics of the Republic Day invitation carry strategic weight. Republic Day guests of honour are typically chosen to reflect diplomatic priorities, and inviting the EU’s top leadership indicates a desire to elevate the relationship from transactional cooperation into a more structured, agenda-driven partnership.
- Summit date: 27 January 2026 (New Delhi).
- Republic Day parade participation: 26 January 2026 (as guests of honour).
- Focus areas: trade, defence cooperation, clean transition, mobility and people-to-people ties.