Under this partnership, India and the EU strengthen Defence industrial cooperation and advance alignment on Defence initiatives, according to a Statement issued by the European Commission. With the signing of a new Security and Defence Partnership, we are entering a new phase of EU-India relations. The Partnership brings India closer to NATO without making it a member of NATO or NATO Plus. The Security and Defence Partnership does what India could expect after becoming a NATO Plus member. Led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, it focuses on joint procurement, increased national Defence spending, and strengthening the European Defence industry.