Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a significant tour across Europe, making stops in Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, and Italy to strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties with European nations. His visit aimed at deepening economic cooperation, fostering innovation, and addressing geopolitical challenges through strategic partnerships.

In Gothenburg, Sweden, Prime Minister Modi engaged in crucial discussions with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson and European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen at the European Business Round Table for Industry. The event brought together European and Indian business leaders, underscoring India's commitment to deepening investment linkages with Europe. Modi emphasized this objective in a post on X, highlighting the strategic importance of such engagements.

A central focus of the discussions in Sweden was the landmark EU-India trade agreement, which Von der Leyen hailed as the "mother of all deals." This agreement, initially inked in New Delhi in January, is anticipated to be finalized by the end of the year. Representing a vast economic partnership, it encompasses nearly two billion people and accounts for almost a quarter of global economic output, marking the largest bilateral trade pact either side has ever signed. This deal is particularly significant given the current landscape of global trade, increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions. Under its terms, India is set to eliminate or reduce duties on 96.6% of EU goods exports, while the EU will liberalize 99.5% of its tariff lines on goods imported from India over a period of seven years.

However, Von der Leyen stressed that trade constitutes only half of the equation, advocating for an additional "investment agreement." She described this as "the missing piece of the puzzle in our reinforced economic cooperation," expressing optimism that this dynamic new era in EU-India relations opens "historic opportunities," which both sides are determined to seize. Beyond the broader EU-India framework, Modi and Kristersson also held bilateral discussions, covering areas such as trade, investments, innovation, and defence.

Prior to his stop in Sweden, Prime Minister Modi visited the Netherlands on Saturday, where he met with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. The two leaders signed a strategic partnership focused on expanding cooperation in crucial sectors including trade, technology, and energy, further diversifying India's engagement with European economies.

The European tour is set to continue with Modi moving to Oslo for the third India-Nordic summit. This summit will bring together leaders from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. The agenda for these high-level talks will center on deepening cooperation in technology, renewable energies, defence, space, and the strategically important Arctic region, as confirmed by India's External Affairs Ministry.

Prime Minister Modi's tour will conclude in Italy on May 20, where he is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This visit builds upon the "Joint Strategic Action Plan" committed to by Modi and Meloni in 2024. That earlier agreement outlined cooperation in security and defence, alongside efforts to promote "safe and legal migration channels," signifying a comprehensive approach to bilateral relations.