R-Day Parade 2026 Chief Guests: How Significant Is António Costa, Ursula Von Der Leyen’s Visit From India-EU Trade Deal Lens
India and European Union are strategic partners since 2004. Bilateral ties have expanded and deepened. Image courtesy: RNA
Originally launched in 2007, and then re-launched in 2022, India-EU trade deal could finally be agreed upon as both the sides are “very close” to finalising the pact. It has been learnt that the highly anticipated trade deal between India and the European Union could be concluded in this month itself, even as talks over US trade deal drag on.
Interestingly, what gives more weight the reports of India-EU trade deal being finalised as early as this month are the Republic Day 2026 Chief Guests. Both India and Brussels have formally announced that the EU leadership will travel to India as chief guests for the 77th Republic Day celebrations.
European Council President Antonio Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be on an three-day visit to India from January 25 to 27, 2026, during which they will hold the much-delayed EU-India summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Republic Day 2026 Chief Guests
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday (January 15, 2026) announced that at the invitation of PM Modi, Costa and Leyen will be on a State Visit to India from 25-27 January 2026 as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations. “During the visit, the leaders will also co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on 27 January 2026,” it added.
India’s invitation to the European leaders to be the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day celebrations, underscores the growing strategic closeness between New Delhi and Brussels. Their visit also comes at a crucial moment, with India and the European Union edging closer to finalising a long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
16th India–EU Summit in focus
During the visit, President Costa and President von der Leyen will co-chair the 16th India–EU Summit on January 27, 2026 alongside PM Modi. They will also call on President Droupadi Murmu and hold both restricted and delegation-level talks with PM Modi, covering the full spectrum of political, economic and strategic cooperation.
An India–EU Business Forum is also expected to be organised on the sidelines of the summit, bringing industry leaders into the conversation as trade and investment ties gain momentum.
Why this visit matters now
India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004, but the relationship has gained renewed energy over the past year, especially after the historic visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs said the upcoming visit and summit will further deepen the India–EU Strategic Partnership.
President Costa and President von der Leyen’s India visit is also expected to advance collaboration in priority areas of mutual interest.
The timing, however, is key. Negotiations on the ambitious India–EU Free Trade Agreement are at an advanced stage, making the presence of Europe’s top leadership in New Delhi particularly significant.
India–EU FTA: Deal in the final stretch
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said this week that negotiations have made substantial progress, with 20 of the 24 FTA chapters already finalised. The remaining issues are under active discussion, with negotiators from both sides engaging on a near-daily basis.
“We have closed 20 out of 24 chapters completely. There are a few issues which are still under ongoing negotiations, and we are trying to see if we can meet the timeline before our leaders meet,” Agrawal said, adding that while January is an important target, the focus remains on achieving a meaningful and balanced agreement.
Bilateral trade between India and the EU totalled 120 billion euros ($140 billion) in 2024, making the bloc India’s biggest trading partner. If concluded, the deal would open India’s vast and heavily protected consumer market of more than 1.4 billion people to European goods.
High-level momentum behind the deal
Adding to the momentum, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal concluded a two-day visit to Brussels earlier this month, holding discussions aimed at narrowing differences and accelerating progress on the FTA. Officials on both sides see the upcoming summit as a potential inflection point.
With trade negotiations nearing completion and political engagement at its highest level in years, the visit of Presidents Costa and von der Leyen is being viewed as more than ceremonial. Moreover, the India-EU trade deal will be something that is set to remain the buzzword at least for the next few days.
