EU Leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa Attend India's Republic Day Parade as Chief Guests

18 hours ago

This report focuses on the historic visit of European Union leaders to India for the 77th Republic Day celebrations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa attended the parade at Kartavya Path as chief guests, arriving in a ceremonial buggy with President Droupadi Murmu. Ursula von der Leyen described the invitation as the 'honor of a lifetime' and was seen wearing a traditional brocade bandhkala kurta. The event marked the first time an EU contingent marched in the parade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally briefed the leaders on the significance of various tableaux. The visit is strategically significant amid shifting global alliances and tensions between Europe and the US over Greenland. Discussions between PM Modi and the EU leadership are expected to cover trade, technology, and climate change, with the EU chief describing the potential strategic cooperation as a 'mother of all deals' for the two regions.

Transcript

00:00So let's focus on the visit of the EU leadership to India, why this is significant.

00:04The timing of it is crucial.

00:06We're seeing shifting global alliances, heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

00:10And it's amid that, that the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

00:14and the European Council President Antonio Luis Santo da Costa

00:18are the chief guests at this year's Republic Day Parade.

00:21Ursula described the invitation as the honour of a lifetime.

00:25In fact, she was there dressed in a bandh gala kurta,

00:28again sending across a message that she was truly embracing the spirit of Indian culture and tradition.

00:35Both leaders arrived at Kartavya Pat this morning in a ceremonial buggy alongside President Draupadi Murmo.

00:41The EU chief was seen wearing a brocade bandh gala kurta.

00:44Both were formally received by Prime Minister Modi.

00:47And we also saw the bonhomie between the leaders because through the course of that parade,

00:51Prime Minister Modi also was seen personally interacting,

00:55explaining the significance of each of the tableau of the parade to the European Union leadership.

01:01It's for the first time that you also had a European Union contingent marching in the parade

01:05with EU flag bearers riding on two gypsy vehicles along the route.

01:09The visit being described is the potential mother of all deals.

01:13That's the wording that was used by the EU chief herself.

01:16Carries significant strategic weight.

01:18The EU leaders tomorrow will be meeting with Prime Minister Modi,

01:22followed by press briefings outlining outcomes on trade, technology, climate change and strategic cooperation

01:28set against the backdrop of renewed global trade tensions.

01:31The deal comes as US-Europe relations face strains over Greenland.

01:36We've been seeing very public barbs and back and forth between Trump and the EU leadership.

01:40Europe now is taking a stand against Trump,

01:43which is why they know full well that this symbolism with India matters a great deal.

EU Leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa Attend India's Republic Day Parade as Chief Guests

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended