Can India and Europe Chart a New Course?

The European Union and India are caught in an awkward spot between the United States and China. The two must create a new trade partnership.

In the late fifteenth century, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama departed from Lisbon with 170 sailors for a voyage to India. His successful trip led to centuries of complex history of direct interaction between Europe and the subcontinent, including trade and colonization. India, however, was always more than a European colony, and surely enough, it quickly re-achieved geopolitical prominence after independence in 1947. During the Cold War, it sought to lead the non-aligned movement, positioning itself as a middle path between the Soviet and American-led blocs. 

Today, India’s pivotal role is not only political but also economic. India now boasts the fourth-largest GDP, hosts roughly 18 percent of the world’s population, and has become a critical country in manufacturing, trade, and services. New Delhi, however, has transformed its non-alignment into “multi-alignment,” opening new doors for partnerships.

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