EU Chief Says Her Commission's First Trip Will Be To India, Says Will Work With PM Modi To 'Upgrade Strategic Partnership'

European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday (January 21) that first trip of the commission will be to India. She was speaking at World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. She said EU wanted to boost ties with 'largest country and democracy in the world'

"The first trip of my new commission will be to India. Together with Prime Minister Modi, we want to upgrade the strategic partnership with the largest country and democracy in the world," she said.

In her speech, she said that the EU was looking forward to partnering with countries in Africa and Asia.

Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as European Commission chief in July last year but the new commission has started work recently. She will remain EU chief till 2029.

She faces an uphill task especially since US President Donald Trump has taken charge of the Oval Office. Trump has been threatening high tariffs on imports from the EU in order to make US-made products cheaper in its domestic market.

Since Trump has a reputation of being a tough negotiator and an isolationist, von der Leyen has swung into action to find new trade partners.

In December, She concluded a deal with Mercosur, the South American trade bloc. Just last week, there was an overhaul of trade accord between the EU and Mexico

On Monday, EU restarted trade talks with Malaysia, something that was delayed for more than a decade.

Published on: Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 06:22 PM IST