New Delhi: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday said that a successful India plays a crucial role in making the world “more stable, prosperous and secure”, as she attended the 77th Republic Day celebrations in Delhi as a chief guest.
Von der Leyen in a post on X, wrote, “A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. And we all benefit,” adding that it was the honour of a lifetime to be chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
It is the honor of a lifetime to be Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations.
A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure.
And we all benefit ↓ https://t.co/boeqFGv15Q
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 26, 2026
She attended the parade alongside European Council President Antonio Costa.
Von der Leyen on three-day visit to India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a privilege to host von der Leyen and Costa, adding that their visit emphasised the “growing strength” of India’s partnership with the European Union.
“India is privileged to host European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during our Republic Day celebrations. Their presence underscores the growing strength of the India-European Union partnership and our commitment to shared values,” Modi said in a post on X.
Von der Leyen is on a three-day visit to India and is scheduled to hold summit-level talks with Modi on Tuesday, with discussions expected to focus on trade, security and strategic cooperation. According to reports, the long-pending India–EU free trade agreement might also be announced during the summit.
Long pending India-EU FTA
Ahead of her visit, von der Leyen described the proposed trade pact as “historic”, saying it could reshape economic ties between India and the 27-nation European Union. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, she said the agreement would create a combined market of nearly two billion people.
The European Union is currently India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods valued at $135 billion in the 2023–24 financial year. Negotiations for the free trade agreement were first launched in 2007, stalled in 2013, and revived in 2022.