External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to France, the European Union, and Belgium, which began on June 8, 2025, underscores India's commitment to strengthening ties with key European partners and reaffirming its unwavering stance against terrorism. The week-long trip, occurring a month after India's "Operation Sindoor" in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, serves as a platform to apprise European leaders of India's firm approach to dealing with cross-border terrorism and to discuss enhanced cooperation in various strategic areas.
In France, Jaishankar is scheduled to engage in bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean Noel Barrot, in Paris and Marseille. These discussions are particularly significant as India and France commemorate 25 years of their strategic partnership. Beyond bilateral talks, Jaishankar will participate in the inaugural edition of the Mediterranean Raisina Dialogue in Marseille, highlighting India's engagement in broader regional security discussions. France has emerged as a strong ally of India, and this visit is expected to further solidify the relationship through high-level engagements with French leadership, interactions with think tanks, and media engagements.
The visit to Brussels will focus on reinforcing the India-European Union strategic partnership. Jaishankar is slated to hold a strategic dialogue with EU High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas. This meeting aims to build on the momentum gained from the first-ever visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February 2025. Discussions will likely span various sectors, including trade, technology, and security, with a particular emphasis on counter-terrorism cooperation. Jaishankar will also engage with senior leaders from the European Commission and the European Parliament, signaling India's commitment to deepening its engagement with the EU across multiple levels.
In the final leg of his European tour, Jaishankar will travel to Belgium for extensive discussions with Belgian leaders. India and Belgium share a robust economic partnership, and talks are expected to cover trade and investment, green energy, technology, pharmaceuticals, and the diamond sector. The External Affairs Minister will hold bilateral consultations with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium, Maxime Prevot, and meet with other senior leaders. Additionally, Jaishankar will connect with members of the Indian community in Belgium, further strengthening people-to-people ties.
Jaishankar's trip is strategically timed ahead of Prime Minister Modi's planned visit to Canada for the G7 summit, where EU leadership and French President Emmanuel Macron will also be in attendance. The External Affairs Minister is expected to prepare the groundwork for PM Modi's meetings, ensuring that India's perspective on critical issues, particularly counter-terrorism, is well understood. The visit aims to reinforce India's message of zero tolerance towards terrorism, especially in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, and to garner international support for its approach.
This European tour underscores India's proactive foreign policy and its commitment to fostering strong, multifaceted relationships with key global partners. By engaging with France, the EU, and Belgium, Jaishankar seeks to not only strengthen bilateral ties but also to reaffirm India's role as a responsible and reliable actor on the international stage, particularly in the fight against terrorism.
