Ursula von der Leyen

February 16, 2026 10:12 AM

Europe aims to rely less on US defence after Trump’s Greenland push

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reflected a feeling of profound change among European leaders at this weekend's Munich Security Conference when she said: "Some lines have been crossed that cannot be uncrossed anymore". Transatlantic ties have already been strained over the past year by Donald Trump’s return to the White House. But the U.S. president’s push to annex Greenland dramatically increased European doubts about Washington’s commitment to protect the continent th...

January 28, 2026 10:54 AM

President Murmu hosts EU leaders, hails India-EU FTA and shared democratic values

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday hosted António Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking a historic moment in India-European Union relations. The two EU leaders were the Chief Guests at India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations - the first time the European Union has participated in this capacity - underscoring the growing depth and trust in the India-EU Strategic Partnership. Welcoming the visiti...

January 15, 2026 7:03 PM

EU leaders to be Chief Guests at India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will pay a State Visit to India from January 25 to 27 as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations. During the visit, the two leaders will also co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). As part of their engagements, President Costa and President von der Leyen will me...

October 3, 2025 10:21 PM

EU’s Von der Leyen urges European push on AI-driven cars

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Friday for a continent-wide push to develop self-driving cars, saying artificial intelligence could help revive the region's struggling automotive sector and improve road safety. Speaking at the Italian Tech Week in Turin, Italy's automotive hub, von der Leyen urged the European Union to adopt an "AI first" strategy across strategic industries, with a focus on mobility. "Self-driving cars are already a reality in the United States an...

September 18, 2025 11:55 AM

EU unveils new strategy to boost trade, tech, and defence ties with India; PM Modi welcomes move

The European Union on Wednesday unveiled a new strategic agenda to elevate its partnership with India, focusing on trade, technology, defence, and global cooperation. The European Commission and the High Representative adopted a Joint Communication outlining the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda,’ which seeks to deepen bilateral cooperation, enhance prosperity and security, and address global challenges together. Announcing the initiative, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sai...

September 10, 2025 4:38 PM

EU Commission chief to propose new measures targeting Israel

The European Commission will propose sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers and the suspension of trade-related measures in a European Union agreement with Israel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. The proposals, announced by von der Leyen in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, reflect growing EU criticism of Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza and increased pressure on the bloc's executive body to take action. The proposals would need broad ...

September 4, 2025 10:45 AM

Russia says potential military troops deployment in Ukraine unacceptable

Russia has no plans to discuss any potential foreign military deployment in Ukraine in any format, calling it "unacceptable", foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on Thursday. She was commenting on remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on plans to send European troops to Ukraine, a move, which was also rejected by Germany. In an interview to the Financial Times on Sunday, von der Leyen said Europe was drawing up "pretty precise plans" for a multin...

July 28, 2025 8:54 AM

US and EU avert trade war with 15% tariff deal

The U.S. struck a framework trade agreement with the European Union on Sunday, imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods - half the threatened rate - and averting a bigger trade war between the two allies that account for almost a third of global trade. U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the deal at Trump's luxury golf course in western Scotland after an hour-long meeting that pushed the hard-fought deal over the line, following mont...

May 26, 2025 9:01 AM

Trump agrees to delay EU tariffs until July 9

U.S. President Donald Trump backed away on Sunday from his threat to slap 50% tariffs on imports from the European Union next month, agreeing to extend the deadline until July 9 for talks between Washington and the 27-nation bloc to produce a deal. Trump on Friday said he was recommending a 50% tariff go into place on June 1 because of frustration that talks with the EU were not moving quickly enough. The threat roiled global financial markets and intensified a trade war that has been punctuate...

February 28, 2025 3:52 PM

We value our partnership with India, says EU chief after meeting PM Modi

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to strengthening its ties with India, following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, von der Leyen emphasized that the EU highly values its partnership with India. "Dear Narendra Modi, thank you so much for hosting us in New Delhi. The EU Commission's visit symbolizes how much we value our partnership with India and how much I ...