The EU–India trade deal, formally known as the EU–India Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement, stands out as one of the longest, most intricate and politically revealing trade negotiations in the European Union’s contemporary history. For nearly a decade thereafter, the agreement remained stalled, mirroring broader transformations in global trade politics. That uncertainty intensified dramatically after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which reshaped global trade relations and sharpened diplomatic frictions. Washington increasingly framed India’s trade choices as incompatible with a rules-based international order, resorting to economic pressure to signal its disapproval. The EU–India trade deal reflects a growing recognition that while wars may persist and sanctions shape behavior at the margins, trade remains one of the most effective tools for sustaining livelihoods, stabilizing economies and fostering long-term cooperation.