The Observer Research Foundation hosted a conversation with H.E. Mr. Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Ambassador of Denmark to India, moderated by Dr. Harsh V. Pant at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, on 19th August 2025.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Kristensen reflected on his six months in India, highlighting how Denmark and India share a strong and evolving relationship, particularly since 2020, when the two countries launched India’s first Green Strategic Partnership.
“This is not just a strategic partnership. It is a green strategic partnership, India’s very first,” he emphasised.
This collaboration spans across climate, energy, water, maritime affairs, food and agriculture, healthcare, science, and technology. Sustainability, he noted, remains the “defining thread” binding all sectors of cooperation.
Unlike traditional aid models, the Denmark–India relationship is grounded in equality and co-creation. “We are not here to teach, but to exchange experiences, to be inspired, and to inspire in return,” he said.
India’s strength, according to him, lies in its ability to scale solutions, a factor that has already made solar energy the cheapest power source in the country, helping India exceed its renewable targets ahead of schedule. Denmark is now partnering with India in offshore wind, hydrogen, and waste-to-energy solutions, while also sharing its experience in managing electricity grids with high renewable penetration.
On water security, he reminded that India has “17% of the world’s population but only 3% of its water resources,” making it critical to reduce wastage. He cited Denmark’s success in cutting water loss from 40% in cities to less than 3%, while praising India’s low-cost innovations that Denmark is learning from in return.
The Ambassador noted that over 220 Danish companies operate in India, employing more than 100,000 people across manufacturing, logistics, pharmaceuticals, shipping, and engineering. He highlighted a striking example of global collaboration: a Danish bridge being designed in Denmark from an engineering office in India.
On the innovation front, he pointed to the upcoming India–Nordic Startup Summit in Copenhagen and the role of Denmark’s Innovation Centre in Bangalore. “It is not a one-way street — many Indian companies like Infosys, Tata, and L&T are investing in Denmark, using Copenhagen as a bridge to Northern Europe,” he added.
Shifting focus to the European dimension, Ambassador Kristensen underlined Denmark’s current Presidency of the European Council under the motto “A Strong Europe in a Changing World.”
“Earlier this year, the entire European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, visited India. This has never happened before, and it underlines how important India is to Europe,” he said.
He expressed optimism about the EU–India Free Trade Agreement, currently under negotiation. Europe, he pointed out, is India’s largest trading partner and investor, accounting for over 12% of its trade and €140 billion in FDI stock in 2023.
“Together, the EU and India make up one-quarter of the world’s population and one-quarter of global GDP. We are natural partners,” he affirmed.
Dr. Pant, during the conversation, began by asking whether the current turbulence in global politics was merely “a bump on the road” or if it marked a decisive moment requiring India and the EU to take “hard decisions” — particularly on the Free Trade Agreement that has long remained unfinished.
Ambassador Kristensen acknowledged the weight of the question and responded with optimism, “Bilateral trade between the EU and India has increased by nearly 90% over the past five years. Investment has grown by about 50%. Some of this is driven by geopolitics, but fundamentally it reflects complementarities between our economies.”
He noted that India’s scale, both as a manufacturing hub and a growing consumer market, makes it a uniquely attractive partner for Europe. “This would have happened anyway,” he added, “but recent developments have instilled a greater urgency and a higher willingness to compromise. That is why I am optimistic the FTA will finally happen, perhaps during Denmark’s presidency, or shortly after.”
On the EU’s broader security outlook, Dr. Pant pressed further, pointing to the shifting ground in Washington and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. What does this mean for Europe as a geopolitical actor?
The Ambassador was candid: “Europe has been subjected to a rough awakening. We discovered that we had become overly reliant on third parties for both our security and our economic competitiveness. That has to change. Europe must stand on its own feet, while remaining firmly anchored in NATO.”
He stressed that there is now a strong political will to invest in defence, rebuild capabilities, and reduce vulnerabilities. On Ukraine, he was careful to underline agency: “It is for the Ukrainian people and government to decide what they are willing to accept. Any peace agreement will have to include credible security guarantees.”
The conversation then turned eastwards, as Dr. Pant asked about the EU’s increasing focus on the Indo-Pacific and the challenge posed by China. Ambassador Kristensen linked European and Asian security directly, “The sea lanes that connect Europe and Asia are vital. Threats to them are threats to our connectivity. That is why security in the Indo-Pacific is also of interest to Europe. India and the EU are already cooperating, whether in anti-piracy or addressing disruptions in maritime trade.”
Finally, Dr. Pant brought the discussion home to the bilateral green partnership between India and Denmark, India’s first such agreement. What benchmarks, he asked, would define its success? The Ambassador emphasised scale and urgency, “Our aim is to double down on green priorities. Climate change is the most consequential challenge we face, and India and Europe are natural partners. What has begun as pilot projects must now be scaled up. If we can make these solutions work in India, we can make them work everywhere.”
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