For all of Europe’s talk of modernity, liberal values, and economic openness, the European Union (EU) continues to betray an outdated colonial mindset whenever it deals with countries outside its club of mostly Western nations. The ongoing free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India serve as a striking example of this problem. What should have been a straightforward discussion about tariffs, market access, and economic complementarities has instead been mired in political posturing, strategic overreach, and misplaced arrogance by Brussels.

At its heart, the EU still struggles to accept that India is no longer a “lesser” nation to be lectured, coerced, or dictated to. India today represents 1.4 billion people, the world’s fifth-largest economy, and one of the fastest-growing markets globally. Yet European officials, many of whom are unelected bureaucrats far removed from democratic accountability, continue to assume the authority to impose not just trade conditions but also geopolitical alignments on New Delhi.

The most telling feature of Europe’s approach is the persistence of its old colonial arrogance. The colonial project was never just about territory; it was also about enforcing obedience, extracting concessions, and erasing autonomy. Long after Europe’s empires crumbled, the vocabulary of superiority and the assumption of entitlement remained embedded in the institutions of Brussels.

In the India-EU FTA talks, these traits are once again on display. European negotiators behave as if they can define the terms not only of agricultural tariffs or regulatory standards but also of India’s foreign policy – particularly regarding Russia. By attempting to tie trade benefits to India’s stance on the Ukraine war, the EU has demonstrated both hypocrisy and delusion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it abundantly clear that India will not yield its strategic autonomy. During his interactions with global........

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