NEW DELHI, Jan. 24 -- India and the European Union are on the brink of finalising what officials are calling the "mother of all deals", a landmark trade and strategic partnership aimed at strengthening economic and geopolitical ties. The announcement is expected during the EU-India summit next week in New Delhi, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Negotiations for the free trade pact, ongoing for nearly two decades, have gained momentum amid global pressures from China and the United States, as both powers face tariffs, export controls, and geopolitical tensions. The deal aims to expand trade in goods and services, streamline mobilit...