India and the Netherlands have agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations to a ‘Strategic Partnership’, focusing on regular and structured cooperation across multiple areas. The announcement came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to The Hague, where he held extensive talks with his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.
India and the Netherlands also inked a number of agreements to further enhance their cooperation in a range of areas.
According to a joint statement issued by the two countries, India and the Netherlands agreed to collaborate in areas including trade and investment, defence and security, cybersecurity, critical and emerging technologies (including semiconductors), space, AI and quantum systems, science, innovation, sustainability, and health.
Cooperation will also extend to sustainable agriculture and food systems, water management, climate change and energy transition, sustainable transport, maritime development, education, culture, and people-to-people ties.
“Both leaders welcomed in this regard the agreements concluded in December 2025 across different priority sectors, such as on defence, semiconductors and related emerging technologies, enhanced cooperation in digital and cyberspace, collaboration in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, the establishment of a Joint Trade and Investment Committee, as well as the cooperation between the maritime museums in Lothal and Amsterdam,” the statement said.
Modi and Jetten reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the multilateral system and called for text-based negotiations within a fixed timeframe. Modi thanked Jetten for Dutch support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.
According to the joint statement, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the India-EU Strategic Partnership and welcomed the conclusion of negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement in January this year.
“They agreed that the free trade agreement will strengthen political and economic ties between the world’s second and fourth largest economies, at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and global economic challenges and highlight the joint commitment to economic openness and rules-based trade,” it said.
Modi and Jetten expressed concern over the war in Ukraine and agreed to support efforts for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy. They also noted the situation in West Asia, welcomed the April 8 ceasefire, and stressed the need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy.
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