India and the Netherlands are elevating ties, focusing on defence and…

Sarah J · 2025-12-25T20:37:05.000Z

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said the partnership is moving to a more strategic, future-oriented phase. Traditional cooperation in water, horticulture, and agriculture will continue, but the emphasis shifts to security, defence, semiconductors, and AI. A Letter of Intent on defence deepens maritime collaboration. The Netherlands joins India’s Indo‑Pacific efforts as an observer and plans senior naval visits. Van Weel toured Indian shipyards to explore industry partnerships. High-tech cooperation is a priority. The Netherlands will engage on AI, with the Dutch PM likely attending India’s AI Summit. NXP’s existing footprint in India underscores semiconductor links. On Ukraine, Van Weel called the war “existential” for Europe, stressing Ukraine must not lose and noting Europe’s £90 billion support. He encouraged India to press Moscow toward serious talks. He condemned recent terror attacks in India and addressed concerns about Dutch defence exports to Pakistan, saying patrol vessel deliveries stem from older contracts and are carefully vetted. Overall, both countries align on security, technology, and democratic guardrails, aiming to shape a stable, rules‑based future together.

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India and the Netherlands are elevating ties, focusing on defence and… | SEINET