External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar is set for a significant diplomatic tour to Europe, underscoring India's proactive engagement with key partners. The six-day official visit to France and Luxembourg, scheduled from January 4 to January 10, will feature high-level meetings aimed at consolidating and expanding bilateral relationships.
Strengthening the India-France Strategic Partnership
During his stay in France, Minister Jaishankar will hold crucial talks with the French leadership, including his counterpart, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. The discussions are poised to review the substantial progress under the India-France Strategic Partnership, a cornerstone relationship launched on 26 January 1998.
The partnership, which began as India's first-ever such agreement, was founded on a shared vision to enhance strategic autonomy through deeper cooperation. Its principal pillars have traditionally been defence and security, civil nuclear energy, and space collaboration. In recent years, this framework has successfully broadened to encompass critical new areas like maritime security, digitalisation, cybersecurity, advanced computing, and joint efforts in counterterrorism and climate change.
Adding a prestigious dimension to the visit, Jaishankar will address the 31st French Ambassadors' Conference in Paris as the Guest of Honour. This platform will allow him to articulate India's perspectives on global diplomacy and international cooperation to a distinguished audience.
Deepening Engagement with Luxembourg
Following his engagements in France, the External Affairs Minister will travel to Luxembourg. There, he is scheduled to meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel and other senior leaders of the Grand Duchy. The talks will focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, building on the warm and friendly relations the two nations have enjoyed since establishing diplomatic ties in 1948.
Luxembourg opened its Embassy in New Delhi in February 2002, which remains one of its only five embassies in Asia. It also maintains honorary consuls in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. During his stay, Jaishankar will also connect with members of the Indian community in Luxembourg, highlighting the people-to-people bonds that supplement government-level interactions.
A Broader Strategic Context
This high-level visit is strategically timed, reflecting India's sustained focus on strengthening its European partnerships. It comes as negotiations between New Delhi and the European Union on a long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have entered what officials describe as a "decisive phase."
The discussions in both France and Luxembourg are expected to cover key regional and global issues of mutual interest, with a particular focus on the Indo-Pacific region. The visit underscores India's commitment to a multipolar world order and its role as a reliable and engaged global partner, actively shaping diplomatic and strategic dialogues.
