New Delhi, March 15: India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will embark on a trip to Belgium today. According to information shared by the Ministry of External Affairs, he will participate in the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council and engage in bilateral meetings with EU leaders and Belgian counterparts.
Dr. Jaishankar’s visit is a two-day affair, during which he will remain in Brussels until March 16. He was invited by EU High Representative and Vice-President, Kaja Kallas.
This trip follows the 16th India-EU Summit, aiming to deepen the strategic partnership by advancing recent discussions. During his visit, the Foreign Minister will meet with EU leaders and counterparts from Belgium and other EU member states.
India-EU relations have reached a historic high in 2026. Earlier this year, the long-standing strategic partnership evolved into economic and geopolitical alignment. Both parties have strengthened ties in trade, security, technology, sustainable development, and global issues.
Notably, a historic free trade agreement was reached between India and the EU in January 2026. This agreement was established as the EU and India sought to navigate trade conditions while the United States exerted tariff pressures on various nations.
The first attempt to initiate trade agreement discussions between India and the EU was made in 2007. Negotiations regarding tariffs, market access, and regulations stalled for several years but resumed in 2021. The full impact of this agreement will take time to manifest. However, reactions from Washington suggest that as free trade partners advance, the U.S. may need to reconsider its trade strategy.
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