India, Jan. 26 -- India and the European Union can together act as "strong providers of stability, protectability and reliability" on the international stage and protect the rules-based order at a time of growing geo-economic turbulence and unpredictability in trade, European Council President Antonio Costa said on Monday.

In an exclusive interview with HT shortly after participating in the Republic Day celebrations along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and ahead of the India-EU Summit on Tuesday, Costa said the growing India-EU security and defence cooperation is crucial for preserving security in the Indo-Pacific and ensuring free and open commerce between the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic. Edited excerpts:

The...