EU and India restart relationship and trade negotiations

Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden, shares his perspective from London.

What was the significance of Indian Prime Minister Modi's tour in Europe?

I think it was important. There is an attempt to restart the relationship primarily between the European Union and India. Ursula von der Leyen was in Delhi and now Modi has been to Berlin. He has met all of the Nordic prime ministers. He was in Paris. There has been a restart of trade negotiations, always difficult with India. And there's been setting up the Trade and Technology Council between India and the EU. It could be something, remains to be seen.

Will Finland and Sweden join NATO?

Yes, they will. You can expect a formal declaration of intent by the two governments within the next two weeks, and then fairly speedy negotiations with Brussels, and then hopefully a fairly speedy ratification by the member states notably by the US. This was certainly not what Mr. Putin had in mind when he launched his invasion and his war. It changes the security structure of Europe. It creates, I think primarily for Northern Europe, a more stable and secure situation that we had before.