India invites EU top brass: Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa to be Republic Day 2026 chief guests

New Delhi: In a historic diplomatic first, the European Union’s two highest-ranking officials will serve as joint chief guests for India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced Thursday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are scheduled for a state visit from Jan. 25-27. Their presence at the ceremonial parade at Kartavya Path marks the first time India has invited the top leadership of an international organisation to share the honours as chief guests.

The leaders are scheduled to hold the 16th India-EU Summit on Jan. 27, co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussions are expected to focus on a new "Strategic Agenda 2030," covering defence industrial cooperation, artificial intelligence, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Bilateral trade between the two entities reached record highs in 2025, with the EU remaining one of India's largest sources of foreign direct investment. However, friction remains over the EU’s proposed carbon taxes and India's continued neutral stance on the conflict in Ukraine.

The Republic Day chief guest invitation is India’s highest diplomatic honour, previously extended to world leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Emmanuel Macron. The 2026 parade, themed "Vande Mataram," will showcase India's military hardware alongside the joint European leadership, symbolising a shift toward deeper Western security partnerships.