Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands this weekend marks an important moment in relations between the two countries. During the visit, a formal strategic partnership is expected to be announced, after months of preparation.
This is a logical step – and of considerable strategic value for both countries. India is emerging as one of the most important economic and geopolitical players of the 21st century. The Netherlands, for its part, plays a central role in Europe in the fields of logistics, technology and international trade.
However, the symbolic and political visibility of this relationship remains surprisingly limited. Modi’s visit was not officially confirmed until late. This comes during a week when much international attention is focused on Beijing Summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, or the BRICS Summit (in fact in New Delhi). Additionally, the Netherlands is just one stop on a larger tour that includes the United Arab Emirates and various other European capitals. This reflects a broader reality: although cooperation between India and the Netherlands has grown significantly in recent years, the strategic importance of the relationship remains largely unknown to the public.
On the economic level, however, ties have broadened considerably. Today, the Netherlands is the main destination within the European Union for exports of Indian productsmainly taking into account the central role of the port of Rotterdam as a hub for Asian imports into Europe. At the same time, a growing number of Dutch companies view India as a crucial partner as part of their “China+1” strategy. As geopolitical tensions between China and the West continue to rise, many companies are seeking to reduce their dependence on China by geographically diversifying their production and investments. India is playing an increasingly important role in this process.
Cooperation between the two countries is no longer limited to traditional trade. New areas are rapidly gaining importance, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, green hydrogen, digital infrastructure, climate adaptation and water management. Particularly in the areas of technology and innovation, the two economies are discovering growing areas of convergence.
This development is part of a profoundly changing international context. The war in Ukraine, the growing rivalry between the United States and China, and growing concerns about economic dependencies have caused many European countries to rethink their strategies. Economic security, technological independence and resilient supply chains They now occupy a much higher place on the political agenda than just a few years ago, and especially with the new government of Rob Jetten.
In this changing geopolitical landscape, India is becoming increasingly important to Europe. The country combines a large market with a young population, technological ambitions and growing international influence. For European countries, cooperation with India is therefore no longer just a commercial question, but also a question of geopolitical positioning and strengthening partnerships beyond China.
Nevertheless, India has long received less strategic attention in the Netherlands than China. Dutch policy towards Asia has historically focused primarily on trade and economic pragmatism. In this context, China has benefited from priority for many years. India was recognized as an important growth market, but less so as a long-term strategic partner.
Also on the Indian side, relations with the Netherlands remained relatively limited in political terms. India has traditionally focused its European diplomacy on larger countries like France and Germany. In New Delhi, the Netherlands was seen above all as an economic and technological partner rather than a major geopolitical player.
As a result, cooperation has developed mainly at the technical and economic level. Diplomats, businesses, universities and port authorities have strengthened ties, but a broader political vision has remained largely absent. This has created a paradoxical situation today: a relationship with increasing strategic relevance, but without strong political discourse or clear public visibility.
However, the two countries complement each other remarkably. The Netherlands has strong capabilities in logistics, agricultural technology, water management, high-tech industry and semiconductors. India offers scale, economic growth, technological innovation and an increasingly influential role in international politics. Both countries also rely heavily on open trade routes and stable maritime connections.
It is precisely for this reason that these relations have the potential to go well beyond economic cooperation alone. The Netherlands can continue to serve as an important gateway to Europe for India, while India can become a crucial partner for the Netherlands in the Indo-Pacific region, which plays an increasingly important role in global power dynamics.
However, a true strategic partnership requires more than business numbers and cooperation agreements. If the two countries want to deepen their relations in a lasting way, a stronger political anchor will be necessary. This means greater attention to parliamentary cooperation, academic exchanges and societal ties. The public visibility of this relationship must also increase so that the partnership is not driven solely by policymakers and businesses.
Furthermore, cooperation should be better integrated into the broader relationship between the European Union and India. This relationship was further strengthened earlier this year through the EU-India free trade agreement.
Europe is increasingly looking for partners capable of contributing to economic resilience, technological innovation and geopolitical stability. India is becoming an increasingly important player in this regard.
The central question facing The Hague and New Delhi is therefore no longer whether their relationship is important. The economic and geopolitical developments of recent years have already answered this question. The challenge now lies in the next step: can the two countries transform their growing cooperation into a full-fledged strategic partnership with a clear long-term vision?
Modi’s visit could provide an important symbolic starting point. But ultimately, the success of this relationship will depend on the willingness of both countries to look beyond purely economic interests and think together about their role in a rapidly changing global order.