Starting last weekend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi toured the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy on a six-day trip focused on trade, semiconductors, immigration, and advanced manufacturing. This is Modi’s third trip abroad in 2026 — following visits to Israel and Malaysia — and comes just months after the signing of the European Union–India free trade agreement (FTA) in January.
Both India and Europe are trying to turn ‘diversification’ from a buzzword into reality, reducing their dependence on China and the U.S.
India has long focused on the U.S. for technology, innovation, and investment; Europe offers an opportunity to diversify these inputs. European countries, meanwhile, are seeking more resilient economic and technology partnerships, and both sides are looking to turn the India–EU FTA, scheduled to come into effect by the end of 2026, into a mechanism for concrete co-operation on industrial policy, clean energy, and critical minerals.
The Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy are all members of the EU. Norway is a member of the European Free Trade Association — along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland — which implemented an FTA with India in October 2025.
Modi on the move
Modi began his trip in the United Arab Emirates before heading to the Netherlands. Modi and his Dutch counterpart elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and signed MOUs on mobility, water management, and, most notably, an agreement between ASML, a Dutch multinational, and India’s Tata Electronics to support India’s first semiconductor fabrication plant in Gujarat, a significant development for India’s chip ambitions. Bringing ASML into India’s semiconductor ecosystem signals New Delhi’s determination to enter one of the world’s most strategic and highly concentrated sectors.
In Sweden, Modi’s visit centred on defence, emerging technologies, and the green transition. India and Sweden, too, strengthened ties to a “Strategic Partnership” and committed to doubling trade and investment within five years (mirroring a recent pledge between Canada and India).
Modi’s visit to Norway was the first by an Indian prime minister since 1983. At the India–Nordic summit in Oslo, he met with the leaders of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
Modi wrapped up his trip on Wednesday, signing several agreements with Giorgia Meloni, his Italian counterpart, which spanned maritime transport, talent mobility, and more. Modi and Meloni upgraded ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership,” a rarefied diplomatic stratum.
Canada’s efforts with India, EU
Canada is courting both India and Europe; the second round of negotiations towards a Canada–India trade agreement concluded earlier this month. Piyush Goyal, India’s commerce and industry minister, will visit Canada from May 25–27, in part to expedite trade talks. Ottawa is likely watching how Europe is tying trade, technology, security, and investment together to build a deeper relationship with India.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has labelled Canada “the most European of non-European countries” and said recently that “the international order will be rebuilt [...] out of Europe.”
