EU Leaders Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa to be Republic Day 2026 Chief Guests

• European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa will be the Chief Guests for India's Republic Day 2026.
• Their visit will include an India-EU Summit, focusing on discussions for the long-stalled Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
• This signifies a new strategic and economic alignment, deepening diplomatic and economic ties between India and the EU.
• FTA negotiations resumed on December 8, aiming to resolve outstanding issues related to trade in goods, services, investment, and regulatory standards.
• India has expressed concerns regarding the EU's proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and market access barriers.

Why It Matters: India deepens strategic and economic ties with EU as top leaders become Republic Day 2026 Chief Guests.