European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday in an attempt to revive and expand economic ties. The return of Donald Trump to the White House, tensions with China and economic sanctions on Russia have prompted Brussels to push for deeper trading ties with other economies.

Von der Leyen said during a New Delhi visit that the bloc was considering a defense and security partnership with India. The EU is aiming to achieve a free trade agreement with New Delhi ahead of possible US tariffs.

India and the European Union will try to seal a trade deal during this year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.

In a significant diplomatic push, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday that the European Union is exploring a Security and Defence Partnership with India—a move that could reshape India-EU relations in the years to come.

European Commission Commissioners on Friday arrived at the Hyderabad House venue in the national capital onboard a bus powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology, which was developed and operated in collaboration with Tata Motors and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

Highlighting the need to bolster cooperation between new Delhi and Brussels in the areas of digital technology, Artificial Intelligence and defence, EU President Ursula von der Leyen termed India as a "pillar of certainty" for Europe in an "increasingly uncertain world".

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Friday said Europe wants to elevate its ties with India in defence and security in a conflict-ridden world

Von der Leyen is in India with 22 members of the 27-strong EU College of Commissioners for the first such visit to a non-European nation since she got a fresh mandate last year

India and the EU must take their strategic ties to the "next level" in an era of great power competition and geopolitical turmoils and the relationship has the potential to be one of the defining partnerships of this century,

The European Union is exploring a security and defence partnership with India, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday before meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Von der Leyen arrived in India on Thursday for a two-day visit with her college of commissioners,

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in New Delhi for the first visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India. She began her visit by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat,