On January 26, 2026, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa take their seats at the high table of India’s 77th Republic Day parade, they will witness more than a display of national folklore. Beyond the colorful floats, they will observe the manifestation of a new global order. The presence of the European Union's twin heads in New Delhi is no mere ceremonial gesture; it is a profound strategic signal that Europe has chosen India as its primary "de-risking" anchor in the global trade and technology ecosystem.
For India, this moment validates its mastery of strategic autonomy, navigating a complex international landscape where it maintains legacy ties with Russia while becoming an indispensable partner for the West.
To understand the significance of this display, one must look back to May 2025 and Operation Sindoor. Launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, this operation marked a decisive turning point in Indian strategic doctrine. India demonstrated more than just military might; it exercised sovereign crisis management, explicitly rejecting third-party mediation and clarifying that New Delhi alone defines the boundaries of its national response.
Operation Sindoor proved that India has transitioned from being a security consumer to a security provider. The operation showcased an unprecedented level of jointness where AI-driven Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), armed drones, and precision-guided strikes operated in seamless operational fusion.
Military-industrial logic: from buyer to builder
The 2026 parade reflects this transition from theory to practice. The systems on display constitute a doctrinal map. On one hand, we see battle-proven legacy platforms, T-90 tanks and BMP-II infantry combat vehicles, providing immediate operational readiness. On the other hand, the centerpiece is the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative.
Indigenous systems such as the Arjun tank, the ATAGS and Dhanush artillery, and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, now boasting 80-90% indigenous content, symbolize the success of the “Build More, Buy Less” policy.
India is no longer merely upgrading older platforms; it is creating a modern combined-arms construct where precision and velocity replace sheer numerical mass. Of particular note is the layered air-defense architecture: the indigenous Akash system paired with the MR-SAM (Barak 8), a flagship project of the DRDO-IAI Indo-Israeli partnership.
However, New Delhi’s strategic clarity is also reflected in its candid acknowledgement of remaining capability gaps.
While missile systems like the BrahMos represent an indigenization success story, critical segments such as aero-engines and propulsion remain a significant hurdle, with indigenous content in fighter aircraft engines currently below 10%. Even mainstay platforms like the Arjun tank and K9 Vajra artillery continue to rely on external engines and transmissions. By showcasing these platforms alongside indigenous innovations, India is not claiming total self-sufficiency today, but rather signaling its next strategic priority: transitioning from assembly to deep technology absorption. This transparency is precisely what makes India a credible partner for European and Israeli defense firms looking for long-term joint development rather than simple transactional sales
The European perspective: pragmatism over ideology
Why is Europe, the global champion of strict regulation (Trade and Technology Council - TTC) and liberal values, willing to applaud a parade featuring Russian-origin aircraft? The answer lies in the realism of complexity. Brussels recognizes that India is the only actor capable of offering a strategic counterweight to China within Asia, especially amidst the volatility of shifting American foreign policy.
The invitation to Von der Leyen and Costa signals that the EU views India as a geo-economic anchor of stability. Through initiatives such as the Global Gateway, Europe seeks to offer a transparent, sustainable connectivity model as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India, in turn, is positioning itself not just as an adopter of global standards but as a shaper of them, particularly in AI, data privacy, and green industry.
The opportunity for Jerusalem: the IMEC corridor
For Israel, the convergence between New Delhi and Brussels is a significant strategic development. Israel serves as the vital western link in the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor. IMEC is not merely an infrastructure project for moving goods through the Port of Haifa; it is a digital and security architecture.
As demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, the intelligence and technological cooperation between Jerusalem and New Delhi has reached its zenith. Israel provides India with the technological envelope from cyber defence to the protection of critical infrastructure, which ensures the IMEC corridor remains secure and resilient. The strengthening of the India–Europe axis only elevates Israel’s importance as a strategic bridge, bridging geographical, technological, and value-based divides.
India as a rule-shaper
In January 2026, India is making it clear to the world that it does not intend to take sides in new cold wars. It chooses to engage with all major powers, but on its own terms. It is building a modern military, drastically reducing import dependency, as evidenced by defense exports growing 34-fold over the last decade, and managing a complex web of alignments.
The European leaders observing the parade understand what Jerusalem has known for years: post-Sindoor India is a power that shapes the rules, rather than merely following them. In a world of volatility, Indian "strategic autonomy" is no longer a diplomatic slogan, it is a reality reshaping the map from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean.