His Excellency Mr. Caspar Veldkamp, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, undertook his first official visit to India from March 31 to April 1, 2025. The two-day visit highlighted the expanding and multifaceted relationship between the two nations, with a focus on strengthening cooperation in key areas such as trade, investment, defence, and innovation. As both countries look to deepen their ties, H.E. Veldkamp’s visit marks a significant step toward enhancing political, economic, and strategic collaboration between India and the Netherlands.
On March 31, 2025, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar engaged in delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, focusing on the strengthening of bilateral relations between India and the Netherlands. The two leaders emphasised the increasingly robust cooperation between the two nations across a range of sectors. They discussed the expanding political and cultural exchanges, as well as the growing ties between their people. Both ministers expressed a shared commitment to further enhancing collaboration, recognising the significant strides made in recent years in areas such as trade, innovation, and sustainable development. The talks also underscored the importance of people-to-people connections, which continue to play a pivotal role in deepening mutual understanding and fostering long-term partnerships between the two countries.
The leaders also identified new opportunities for collaboration, particularly in emerging sectors such as semiconductors, digital technologies, renewable energy, and green hydrogen, while continuing to prioritise traditional areas like water management, agriculture, healthcare, and security. Minister Veldkamp’s visit is anticipated to strengthen these existing areas of cooperation and pave the way for new avenues of partnership. The discussions also touched on global and regional issues of shared concern, further highlighting the strategic nature of the relationship between India and the Netherlands.
The visit is also noteworthy in light of the ongoing efforts to further enhance the India-Netherlands partnership, which has a history of over 75 years. Jaishankar expressed his pleasure in meeting Veldkamp, stating, “Delighted to meet FM Caspar Veldkamp of Netherlands this evening. Discussed our growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade, investments, innovation, water, agriculture, health, security, and people-to-people ties.” He further added, “Explored new possibilities in semiconductors, green hydrogen, education, and talent flows. Also spoke about global strategic developments and the significance of multipolarity.”
Talking to X, Foreign Minister Veldkamp said, “I look forward to visiting India. I will speak there with Foreign Minister EAM Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval, amongst others. Considering today’s geopolitical reality, it is important for both the Netherlands and India to strengthen our cooperation and deepen our relationship”.
The visit of H.E. Mr. Caspar Veldkamp to India reflects the growing importance of India-Netherlands relations, rooted in shared values of sustainability, peace, and prosperity. It serves as a reminder of the potential that lies in collaborative partnerships between countries with complementary strengths, working together to tackle global challenges while fostering long-term economic growth and cultural understanding. As both nations look to the future, their relationship is poised to grow in scope and depth, with meaningful impact across several vital sectors.
