EAM Dr S Jaishankar, EU’s Kaja Kallas discuss West Asia and maritime commerce

The meeting between External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas in Brussels represents a significant milestone in India-European Union strategic engagement, particularly against the backdrop of escalating tensions in West Asia and growing threats to maritime commerce. This diplomatic interaction, held in the heart of European decision-making, underscores India's evolving role as a key stakeholder in global security architecture and its commitment to a rules-based international order. The context of this meeting is rooted in the deteriorating security situation in West Asia, particularly following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have triggered wider regional instability involving Iran-backed proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and various militia groups in Iraq and Syria. The Red Sea crisis, where Houthi rebels have targeted commercial vessels since November 2023, has severely disrupted global shipping routes, forcing vessels to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope — adding 10-14 days to transit times and increasing freight costs by over 300% at peak. For India, which conducts over 90% of its trade by volume and 70% by value through maritime routes, the security of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the wider Indian Ocean Region is not merely a strategic concern but an economic imperative. The European Union, under the leadership of High Representative Kaja Kallas (who assumed office in December 2024, succeeding Josep Borrell), has been actively seeking to strengthen its strategic autonomy and global outreach. The EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy, adopted in September 2021, identifies India as a key partner. The India-EU Strategic Partnership, established in 2004 and elevated through regular summits (the last held in February 2023 in Brussels), encompasses trade, climate, technology, and security cooperation. The Trade and Technology Council (TTC), launched in 2022, and the ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) — the world's largest bilateral trade deal under negotiation — further deepen this partnership. From India's constitutional and policy perspective, Article 51 of the Constitution of India mandates the State to "promote international peace and security" and "maintain just and honourable relations between nations." This directive principle guides India's multi-aligned foreign policy, evident in its balanced approach to West Asia — maintaining strong ties with Israel, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, and Iran simultaneously. India's Operation Sankalp (launched December 2023), deploying over 10 naval ships to safeguard merchant shipping in the region, exemplifies its role as a "net security provider" in the Indian Ocean, a concept articulated in the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine unveiled by Prime Minister Modi in 2015. The economic stakes are enormous: India's bilateral trade with the EU stood at €124 billion (2023), making the EU India's largest trading partner, while trade with GCC countries exceeded $184 billion (2022-23). The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the G20 Summit in New Delhi (September 2023), aims to connect India to Europe via the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel — a direct alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative. Stability in West Asia and secure maritime lanes are prerequisites for IMEC's viability. Looking ahead, this engagement signals deeper India-EU coordination in multilateral forums like the UN Security Council (where India served as non-permanent member in 2021-22), the IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association), and the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. Future implications include potential joint naval exercises, intelligence sharing on maritime threats, and coordinated diplomatic efforts for de-escalation in Gaza and Lebanon. For aspirants, this episode encapsulates the intersection of diplomacy, maritime security, economic corridors, and great power competition — core themes in contemporary international relations.