India in the European Union’s foreign and security policy. Strategic opportunities, structural constraints and political ambiguities

India has only recently begun to be regarded as an EU strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region with regard to maritime security. This article examines the challenges of EU–India security interactions, referring to three interconnected dimensions that collectively explain their drivers and limitations. Strategically, India offers the EU extra-regional reach and support in managing China-related risks, as well as growing defence cooperation. However, structural constraints remain. Brussels and New Delhi have different security priorities, disagree on Russia, and lack a coherent treaty framework. Although their relationship is presented as that of 'like-minded democracies', it actually serves as an instrument of mutual leverage rather than providing coordinated support for democratic values and human rights. Nevertheless, recent developments reveal more substantive outcomes in terms of maritime cooperation and security dialogue.