India-EU FTA: A Strategic Choice Amid Global Power Shifts, Says EU VP Kallas

• European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas emphasizes the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a 'strategic choice' beyond mere economics.
• The FTA aims to reduce excessive dependence on global powers like China, Russia, and the United States, creating a common market of nearly 2 billion people.
• A new security and defense partnership agreement will be signed at the India-EU Leaders' Summit on January 27, enhancing cooperation in maritime security, counter-terrorism, and cyber defense.
• Kallas highlights Europe as a reliable defense partner, contrasting it with Russia, and notes that India's ties with Russia pose a challenge to EU cooperation.
• The EU is developing an economic security strategy to counter China's weaponization of trade and aggressive stance, while seeking to deepen technology cooperation with India.

Why It Matters: The India-EU FTA is a strategic move to diversify dependencies, boost economic ties, and enhance security cooperation.