New Delhi, Jan. 27 -- India and the European Union are set to elevate their long-standing strategic engagement, first formalised in 2004, with the signing of a Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), which will explore avenues for India's participation in European defence initiatives.

At the 16th India-EU Summit today, PM Narendra Modi will hold restricted and delegation-level discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

An India-EU Business Forum will also take place alongside the summit.

The meeting will broadly focus on trade, defence and security cooperation, climate action, critical technologies, and reinforcing the rules-based global order.

In addition to advan...