Europe has been through a lot these past few weeks. Donald Trump’s return to the White House has been rough for the European Union. From engaging directly with Russia and considering a meeting with Vladimir Putin, to sidelining Ukraine and the EU from peace talks in Saudi Arabia, to JD Vance confronting European leaders at the Munich Security Conference—Donald Trump has upended the idea of ‘transatlantic unity’ and a ‘rules-based world order.’

Europe can no longer count on the United States to come to its rescue—economically or militarily. The fate of NATO hangs in the balance, and the much-touted ‘Article 5’ security guarantee doesn’t look like a guarantee after all.

Trump has even instituted tariffs against the EU, with more expected in the coming weeks and months. Naturally, Europe is caught in a bind. The 27-nation bloc has known for years what another Trump presidency could mean for Europe. However, despite pre-empting the threat, Europe finds itself scrambling to figure out a response now.

And amidst this scramble, Europe has turned to India.

Ursula von der Leyen is the President of the European Commission. She’s an important figure in European politics, and by far, the most powerful one. Equally influential is the EU’s ‘College of Commissioners,’ a group of 27 most powerful European men and women after Ursula von der Leyen. Together, this group constitutes the EU’s executive body—the European Commission. Call it the European Cabinet if you may.

This Commission is in India for a two-day visit. On February 27 and 28, the EU Commission led by Leyen will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi and his team, apart from attending the second meeting of the EU-India Trade and........

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