India, Netherlands upgrade ties to ‘strategic partnership’, deepen defence, chip and Indo-Pacific cooperation

India and the Netherlands on Sunday elevated their bilateral relationship to a “Strategic Partnership” during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the European nation, signalling deeper cooperation across defence, trade, technology and Indo-Pacific security.In a joint statement issued after talks between PM Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, both countries agreed to establish regular and structured cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, cyber security, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, defence, clean energy, agriculture, water management and education.

The Netherlands also announced its decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and co-lead the Capacity Building and Resource Sharing pillar along with Germany and the European Union.
The two sides stressed the importance of a “free, open, secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific” based on international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom of navigation.Amid rising tensions in West Asia, both leaders expressed deep concern over the impact of the conflict on global trade and energy supplies. They called for uninterrupted commercial movement through the Strait of Hormuz and opposed any restrictions on global shipping routes.

On global governance, India and the Netherlands backed reforms of multilateral institutions, including expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership categories in the United Nations Security Council. PM Modi also thanked the Dutch leadership for supporting India’s bid for permanent membership in a reformed UNSC.In defence, the two countries signed a Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation and agreed to explore a Defence Industrial Roadmap focused on co-development, technology transfer and manufacturing partnerships.

The leaders also discussed the possibility of joint ventures for co-producing defence equipment and enhancing cooperation in maritime security, cyber security, counter-terrorism and emerging technologies.

In the semiconductor sector, both sides welcomed plans to connect the Dutch Semicon Competence Centre with India’s Semiconductor Mission (ISM), aiming to strengthen collaboration in chip technologies.

The visit also saw progress in clean energy cooperation, with both countries welcoming the creation of a Joint Working Group under the renewable energy partnership to focus on solar power, green hydrogen, storage technologies and investments linked to the energy transition.

On the education front, the two sides welcomed the signing of an MoU between the University of Groningen and 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to strengthen academic collaboration and research ties.

India and the Netherlands also signed an agreement on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters to improve information-sharing between customs authorities.