New Delhi, Dec. 19 -- Netherlands Foreign Minister David van Weel on Friday expressed strong optimism over the ongoing India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, describing India and the EU as "natural partners" at a time when trade is facing increasing challenges in the global environment.

David van Weel, on a three-day visit to India, noted that FTAs with like-minded partners have become increasingly significant amid disruptions to global trade and supply chains.

"FTAs with like-minded partners now are more important than ever. We see a world where trade is becoming increasingly difficult, where countries sometimes don't adhere to the rules we set, and where we need to diversify our supply chains to become more resi...