What happened:
On January 26, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa attended India’s 77th Republic Day as Chief Guests during their January 25–27 state visit, ahead of the India–EU Summit in New Delhi.
Why it matters:
The visit highlights deepening India–EU strategic ties, with both sides moving closer to a Security and Defence Partnership and a long-awaited Free Trade Agreement, reflecting converging interests in trade, security and global governance.