EU and India launch partnership to enhance Indo-Pacific maritime security

India and the European Union signed a Security and Defence Partnership in January and held their first formal Security and Defence Dialogue in March, signalling a push to deepen cooperation on maritime security in the Indo‑Pacific. The partnership was followed by a series of meetings, including the fifth Maritime Security Dialogue in Brussels last month, as both sides seek to counter a perceived decline in U.S. influence in the region.

The talks come as India looks for new allies to match its growing economic clout and global ambitions. European nations, meanwhile, want a larger role in Indo‑Pacific security to diversify their strategic options beyond the Ukraine war. However, the two sides face divergent defence priorities. Europe is still grappling with the existential challenge of the conflict in Ukraine, which limits its capacity to commit resources far from its borders.

France stands out as the most active European partner for New Delhi. With bases on Réunion Island and Mayotte, France already cooperates with India in the Indian Ocean, and both diplomats quoted by DW say the relationship is trusted and consistent. France also has no defence ties with Pakistan or China, making it a politically neutral partner for India. Yet, France’s strong naval presence does not automatically translate into a unified EU stance, as other member states remain divided on how to engage in the Indo‑Pacific.

Experts warn that the EU’s fragmented foreign‑policy outlook could blunt the impact of any India‑EU security pact. Tara Kartha, a former Indian national‑security official, noted that despite a 2025 EU strategy for the region, internal disagreements over funding and national priorities have persisted, as seen at the October summit in Brussels. The next step will be whether New Delhi can turn bilateral ties with individual European countries into a coordinated European role, or if the partnership will remain limited to ad‑hoc cooperation in specific maritime projects.