EU calls for closer ties with India despite Modi’s links to Russia

EU’s top diplomat concerned after India joins Russian military exercises ‘that are an existential threat to us’

The EU has called for closer ties with India while admitting there was no “mutual understanding” with Narendra Modi’s government over Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and lead negotiator on trade, Maroš Šefčovič, outlined an EU-India strategy on Wednesday as part of Europe’s drive to build and strengthen alliances in a world shaken by Donald Trump’s challenges to the postwar order.

But they did not attempt to hide differences with New Delhi, after Indian forces took part this week in Russia’s Zapad (western) military exercises in Belarus that simulated a war with Nato countries.

Kallas, who is from Estonia, one of the EU’s frontline states which is seen as vulnerable to a Russian attack, said: “This is a great concern for our countries. I mean if you want closer ties with us then why participate in exercises that are an existential threat to us?”