The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa will visit New Delhi to be chief guests at India’s 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026. They will also co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27. Their visit marks a new level of intent in India-EU relations. India faces pressure from the US over its Russia oil ties, which it calls "inaccurate and misleading." The EU understands the challenges and stresses the need for strategic autonomy over old alliances. India and the EU are close to finalizing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that started in 2007. The FTA aims to open more trade opportunities in textiles, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and IT services. However, India's concern remains the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which adds costs to Indian exports like steel and cement. Europe may offer some relief while keeping climate goals. Defence partnership is another key focus. Ursula von der Leyen wants a Security and Defence Partnership with India, similar to EU ties with Japan and South Korea. This will help India's Make in India initiative and allow joint production and exercises in defence. Strategically, the India-EU partnership could be a model for balancing relations amid US unpredictability and China's rise. Both sides believe in sovereign decisions free from Beijing, Moscow, or Washington's veto. This visit and summit could shape a resilient, multipolar global order if both sides seize the opportunity and cut through bureaucracy.