Donald Trump was too distracted playing emperor. Meanwhile, the EU and India just sealed a deal he never saw coming
Of late, Donald Trump has been trying too hard to live upto his dictator title by proposing to annex one country after another. In the first week of January, Trump’s military, under his orders, effectively abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on narcoterrorism charges. Following this, he has sometimes subtly and sometimes not so much expressed a desire to “run” Venezuela while also using its vast oil reserves to serve American interests.
Venezuela is not the only country Trump has his eyes set on; he is also kind of obsessed with Greenland at the moment and has explicitly shown interest in owning it. In fact, recently, he waged a war on all the nations that opposed his ownership dreams of Greenland by threatening to increase tariffs and taking other necessary measures. However, instead of being scared by his intimidation tactics, these nations are forming alliances among themselves, which definitely isn’t sitting too well with Donald Trump.
On January 27, 2026, India and the European Union concluded talks to enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that will significantly benefit both parties. This agreement highlights a rare instance of cooperation between two major powers, amid increasing pressures from the United States during the Trump administration. Addressing the occasion, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote:
Europe and India are making history today. We have concluded the mother of all deals. We have created a free trade zone of two billion people, with both sides set to benefit. This is only the beginning. We will grow our strategic relationship to be even stronger.”
In the post, Leyen also shared a photograph of herself with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both dressed in traditional Indian attire, sharing a seemingly joyful moment. Modi also reciprocated Leyen’s actions by sharing a post on X, in which he wrote:
Conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement today marks a significant milestone in our relations. I thank all the leaders of Europe over the years for their constructive spirit and commitment in making this possible. This agreement will deepen economic ties, create opportunities for our people and strengthen the India-Europe partnership for a prosperous future.”
Additionally, he shared the message in 23 other languages, besides English, which coincided with the languages of the member states of the European Union, to reach a wider audience.
What does the Free Trade Agreement involve?
The Free Trade Agreement mainly involves a substantial reduction or total elimination of tariffs on over 90 per cent of goods exchanged between India and the EU. Furthermore, it will enhance the relationship between India and the EU, facilitating a greater exchange of talent between the two regions and benefiting all parties involved. As Ursula von der Leyen mentioned in a recent press conference, the agreement will promote “the movement of students, researchers, seasonal and highly skilled workers” to Europe, for which the continent is establishing its “first EU Legal Gateway Office in India.”
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