India and Netherlands Strengthen Strategic Partnership with 17 Agreements

PTI, THE HAGUE Relations between India and the Netherlands have now been elevated to the level of a strategic partnership, with 17 agreements signed with the Netherlands during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. The agreements were signed in defence, rare minerals and other key areas. The visit also follows Modi's arrival in Sweden. The prime ministers will visit Norway and Italy. PM Modi and the prime minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten, held talks on Saturday evening, local time. Cooperation between the two countries will be expanded in innovation, health, agriculture, water management, climate change, energy, maritime development. The two leaders expressed serious concern over the situation in West Asia disrupting global energy supply chains. The position that free trade should be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz was set out in a joint statement. The Ukraine war and its casualties were also discussed. Jetten condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam during the visit. During the visit, he expressed concern about the declining media freedom and religious freedom in India, as well as concerns about the decline of freedom of speech by the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday.