Report on Interaction with a European Parliament Delegation

The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) organised an interaction with a European Parliament Delegation on 18 December 2023. The session was chaired by Director General, Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy. Scholars of the Institute participated in the discussion.

Executive Summary

India and the European Union (EU) are key strategic partners. Amidst a world in flux, there is space for expanding the scope of ties.

Detailed Report

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Sujan Chinoy highlighted the world being in a state of flux amidst the fraying of globalisation. He observed that multilateral institutions have been underperforming, including the United Nations. He felt that a weakened multilateral system does not bode well for global growth, especially in the Global South where a large number of countries are grappling with financial distress in the aftermath of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. This has put the spotlight on regionalism and minilateralism.

Amb. Chinoy observed that China’s rise has been disruptive and that Beijing has benefitted from the current international order. Today, China appears to be riding two horses - one where it wants to exist in the current world order, which it benefits from, while also being simultaneously critical of the same order, largely due to the order being led by the West and based on Western agendas.

Amb. Chinoy highlighted the emerging global contestation anchored to the seven “Ts”. These include Trade, Technology, Territory, Terrorism, Tenants (Narratives), Transparency and Trust. He also highlighted the global vulnerabilities in the four “Fs” - Food, Fuel, Fertilizer and Finance.

Elaborating further, Amb. Chinoy observed that trade and technology have been increasingly weaponised. Territorial contestations too are on the rise. These include the ongoing situation in Europe and India’s border standoff with China. Similarly, there is friction over systems of economic, social, cultural and developmental governance which has led to a clash of narratives. Meanwhile, there also exists trust deficit amidst a lack of transparency of certain countries' motivations and intentions.

Amb. Chinoy emphasised that China’s ambition of achieving the ‘China Dream’ by 2049 may not come to fruition unless the Taiwan reunification issue is addressed.

Highlighting the ongoing developments in the Indo-Pacific, Amb. Chinoy referred to the presence of European countries, particularly France which he pointed out has a natural geographical presence in the region. He also referred to Germany and the United Kingdom staging a comeback in the Indo-Pacific. He observed that extra-regional powers too are stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, it is wrong for China to claim that Asia is exclusively for Asians.

Amb. Chinoy emphasised that ‘Asia-Pacific’ is an outdated concept. In comparison, Indo-Pacific is a more contemporary and inclusive concept. It reflects a natural transition to a broader definition of growth and development in an arc that extends all the way from the Pacific Rim to the east coast of Africa.

Amb. Chinoy observed that India today has emerged as one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world. India is undergoing rapid transformation, underlined by the overall theme of VIKAS. India’s choices at home and its international priorities form part of a seamless continuum that are firmly anchored in India’s transformational goals. Good relations with neighbours - both immediate and extended - are a priority of India’s foreign policy. The country’s emergence as a key regional and global power is predicated on how effectively it manages its own periphery.

Amb. Chinoy emphasised that India is not guided by zero-sum calculations but by the desire to work with all and to resolve global problems in a cooperative spirit. This includes the scourge of terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism, which has long affected India but which also poses a threat to others in India’s neighbourhood as well as globally. India’s collaborative outlook has translated into a framework of strategic autonomy based on multi-alignment. And robust military power is a prerequisite for exercising greater strategic autonomy.

Amb. Chinoy pointed out that India increasingly represents the voice of the ‘Global South’. India’s G20 Presidency successfully brought back the spotlight on developmental issues which is the core mandate of the grouping.

Amb. Chinoy highlighted India’s neutrality in the war in Ukraine while also providing humanitarian aid to the people affected by the war. Similarly, he elaborated on India’s support to the two-state solution in the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He observed that New Delhi has maintained excellent relations with Israel while also providing humanitarian aid to Palestine.

Amb. Chinoy emphasised that India is seeking to deepen strategic partnerships, including in the defence sector, with members of the European Union. He felt that the EU should factor in India’s sensitivities regarding the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. He concluded by highlighting the need to establish robust contacts between Indian and European think tanks.

Nathalie Loiseau (Renew, France), who was leading the EU delegation, highlighted the ‘convergence of views’ between India and the European Union on China's assertive rise.  She also referred to the mutual consensus on the need to ‘reorganise’ the weakened global multilateral institutions.

Ms. Loiseau highlighted the emerging ‘fight’ between autocracies and democracies and reflected on the parallels between Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and China’s aggressive posture towards Taiwan.

Ms. Loiseau also highlighted the issue of migration to Europe as well as EU’s toolkit in dealing with hybrid threats.

She posed a question on how India sees the situation evolving in the Red Sea and whether India would be involved in resolving it.

Patrick Berg (ECR, Germany) posed the following two questions:

1. Prospects of India-EU relations with regard to connectivity and EU’s Global Gateway project.

2. Dynamics of BRICS enlargement and the grouping’s future prospects.  

Jaak Madison (ID, Estonia) enquired about China’s electronic warfare and intelligence gathering in the region.

Petras Auštrevičius (Renew, Lithuania) posed the following two questions:

1. Rationale of India’s BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) membership.

2. India’s position on conflicts in Afghanistan and Yemen.

Fabio Massimo Castaldo’s (NI, Italy) enquired about the China-Cambodia Naval base, whether China would be more assertive in the future and the prospects of India-EU relations.

Amb. Sujan Chinoy responded to these questions. He stated that the situation in the Red Sea is a matter of grave concern, especially in the event of disruption to commercial shipping. He observed that any disruption to this vital sea line of communication would be felt across the world. He pointed out that India has naval assets in the Gulf of Aden by virtue of being a part of the ‘SHADE’ mechanism. India also conducts anti-piracy operations and assists in escorting ships as part of these operations. There is, nevertheless, scope for India to expand collaboration with like-minded countries.

On BRICS expansion, Amb. Chinoy pointed out that six countries (Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Argentina) have recently joined the grouping. Together, they add US$ 2.9 trillion worth of GDP to BRICS with the grouping’s overall GDP now being US$ 30 trillion.

On G20, he observed that G20’s overall GDP was US$ 85 trillion before the inclusion of the African Union (AU). The AU’s addition has not only added US$ 3 trillion to the G20’s portfolio but also made it more representative.

On BRICS and SCO, Amb. Chinoy observed that India’s outlook is anchored to issue-based partnerships.

On developments in Afghanistan, Amb. Chinoy highlighted Taliban’s comeback which he pointed out has significant ramifications. He, however, also emphasised the need to ‘live with reality’. He focussed on the need to convince the Taliban to preserve the gains of the last two decades including democracy and the rights of minorities, women and children.

On the issue of Chinese naval base in Cambodia, it was pointed out that China’s foray in Cambodia is part of Beijing’s larger attempts to expand its regional geo-strategic footprints.

On expanding the scope of India-EU partnership, it was pointed out that connectivity projects hold significant potential. It was felt that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), while currently on the back burner due to the conflict in West Asia, should not be written-off. Similarly, there is potential for expanding collaboration in industrial and defence industry sectors. Moreover, green hydrogen and green energy offer new areas of India-EU collaboration.

(Report prepared by Dr. Jason Wahlang, Research Analyst, Europe and Eurasia Centre, MP-IDSA)