India, Netherlands deepen strategic partnership with focus on semiconductors, defence and emerging technologies
New Delhi, December 19. India and the Netherlands reviewed and expanded their bilateral partnership during the first official visit of Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel, signalling a sharper strategic focus on emerging technologies, defence cooperation and economic ties.
Van Weel visited India from December 17 to 19 at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. During the visit, he held high-level meetings with Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, underscoring the growing breadth of engagement between the two countries.
Delegation-level talks between Jaishankar and van Weel on December 19 covered the full spectrum of India-Netherlands relations. Both sides noted the significant progress made in recent years and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic dimension of the partnership. They highlighted the momentum generated by regular high-level exchanges, including the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last month.
India said it looked forward to welcoming Prime Minister Schoof to New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, while the Netherlands reiterated its invitation to Prime Minister Modi for an official visit aimed at further elevating bilateral ties.
A key focus of the discussions was expanding cooperation in emerging and strategic sectors. The two ministers welcomed efforts to deepen collaboration in semiconductors, defence, digital technologies, Artificial Intelligence, renewable energy, green hydrogen, education and mobility. They took note of several memoranda of understanding and agreements concluded during the year, including an MoU on semiconductors and related emerging technologies, which is expected to provide a more structured framework for cooperation in this critical sector.
Both sides also expressed satisfaction over a Joint Declaration of Intent on enhancing cooperation in the digital and cyber domains, aimed at strengthening security collaboration in the face of growing cyber challenges.
Trade and economic engagement featured prominently in the talks, with the ministers describing it as a key pillar of the bilateral relationship. They welcomed the decision to establish a Joint Trade and Investment Committee to deepen cooperation, address trade facilitation issues and promote bilateral investments.
Drawing on the two countries’ shared maritime heritage, the ministers welcomed an MoU for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat. They also discussed enhancing cooperation in maritime and shipping sectors, particularly in green shipping, port development and shipbuilding. Progress under the Water, Agriculture and Health (WAH) agenda was reviewed, with both sides welcoming a new agreement on cooperation in pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
The discussions also covered regional and global developments, including the Indo-Pacific, Ukraine, South Asia and West Asia. Van Weel conveyed condolences for the victims of the recent terror attack in Delhi, while both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and reiterated the need for stronger international cooperation. India reaffirmed its policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
In a separate meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, both sides welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation, which is expected to provide an enabling framework for deeper defence and security collaboration.
Earlier, van Weel arrived in Mumbai on December 17, where he met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, visited the Western Naval Command and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, and interacted with members of the business community. He also visited the Dutch semiconductor firm NXP in Noida, highlighting the growing technology partnership between the two countries.
The visit reflects the steady intensification of India-Netherlands relations, which have expanded beyond traditional areas of trade, investment and people-to-people ties to include strategic domains such as technology, innovation, defence, renewable energy and maritime cooperation.
