In the context of geopolitical tensions around the world, Europe needs to fortify its connection with India among other important alliances. Angelos Delivorias, an expert from the European Parliament, offers insightful commentary on the complex aspects of India’s ascent and how it affects relations between the EU and India.

India has evolved from a middle-sized nation to a potentially great power, if not a superpower, according to Delivorias, who attributes this development to the country’s growing economic might, military might, and diplomatic clout.

Some experts believe that India is a medium power headed towards greatness, even superpower status. There are four perspectives from which to examine this. Therefore, we value their economic clout, military might, and diplomatic clout, which occasionally includes soft power.

Angelos is a policy expert at European Parliamentary Research (EPRS), which offers extensive research and analytical support to Members of the European Parliament. He specialises on external issues, notably those pertaining to India.

In the context of intensifying geopolitical tensions and great power rivalries, India’s strategic significance to the European Union becomes more apparent. The trajectory that India takes in the future will determine how well the EU is able to accomplish its goals in terms of global politics, economy, and climate change.

“In the current geopolitical environment of great power rivalry between the US and China and of the Russia-Ukraine war, it is important for the EU to increase its ties and to have good ties with a strategic partner and with the largest democracy in the region, the most populous democracy,” the Parliament of the European Union said.

According to Delivorias, India’s growing influence in diplomacy is evident. She also cited India’s leadership of the G20 conference in 2023 and its crucial role as a founding member of BRICS as important markers of its growing power.

“BRICS, in one perspective, symbolises one particular axis right now, whereas the G20 would also be viewed as the biggest economies from industrialised nations, as well as the western part.”

According to Delivorias, “India tries to strike a balance between the East and the West… to position itself as a leader of the Global South,” explaining the country’s complex strategy for negotiating a variety of geopolitical axes.

Delivorias highlights India’s challenging goal of producing adequate work for millions of people each year, despite the opportunities.

India’s economic trajectory is nevertheless promising despite these obstacles, with growth rates that are higher than even China’s. “It has a comprehensive economic strategy… significant investments in national infrastructure projects… [and] even a complete space programme,” Delivorias continued.

Capitals throughout Europe are beginning to realise that, in order to be more independent of China in the global economy, Europe needs to rebalance its economic ties.

India, the world’s fifth-largest economy, is expected to surpass Japan and Germany this decade to grab the third spot behind the United States and China, making it one of the most important alliances that Europe will undoubtedly need to fortify.

India was one of the first nations to establish diplomatic ties with the European Union in the early 1960s, and the two have been together ever since.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the connections are extensive and include a wide range of subjects, including trade, investment, agriculture, research and technology, digital, connectivity, and climate change.