Charting New Frontiers: Historical Bonds, Divergent Nuclear Doctrines, and Expanding Trade in Ireland-India Relations

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L-R Ambassador Kevin Kelly, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra 


From 6 to 7 March 2025, India's External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, officially visited Ireland. This visit, distinguished by diplomatic meetings, academic engagements, and strategic discussions, underscored the evolving global partnerships in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. Despite the historical alliance and mutual support during both nations' freedom struggles, the Ireland-India relationship has not expanded as robustly as anticipated, particularly in contrast to Ireland's increasingly strong ties with China.

Diplomacy and Academic Outreach

During his stay in Ireland, Dr Jaishankar delivered a lecture entitled India's View of the World at University College Dublin (UCD). This address outlined India's foreign policy vision for a multipolar world and emphasised the significance of cultural, educational, and scientific exchanges between the two nations. This academic engagement is crucial in building long-term bilateral relationships that transcend conventional diplomatic interactions.

In a significant development, a delegation of Indian Vice-Chancellors, led by Professor Dr Vinay Kumar Pathak, President of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), visited Ireland to participate in Ireland India Academic Forum 2025 with all Irish universities. This event marked the highest level of academic exchange in recent times and served as a platform for fostering collaborative research and educational initiatives. A key outcome of this forum was signing an agreement between the Ireland India Council (IIC) and the AIU, a concrete step towards catalysing research and innovation between universities in both nations. This partnership promises to drive forward academic excellence and strengthen institutional ties.

Economic Initiatives and Trade Figures

A key outcome of the visit was the proposal to establish a Joint Economic Commission (JEC) with Ireland. In discussions with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris, the JEC was envisaged to enhance cooperation, streamline trade policies, and align economic strategies. This initiative builds on the momentum of celebrating 75 years of bilateral relations in 2024.

Trade between Ireland and India has demonstrated significant promise. In 2023, the total trade in goods and services reached approximately €16 billion (around 1.4 trillion Indian Rupees). Such robust figures highlight the partnership's economic potential and the urgent need to capitalise on and expand these opportunities through focused policy interventions and enhanced bilateral dialogue.

Divergent Nuclear Policies: A Strategic Challenge and Opportunities for Green Collaboration

One of the more challenging aspects of this partnership lies in nuclear policy. Ireland's firm commitment to the prohibition of nuclear technology starkly contrasts India's pragmatic approach, which utilises nuclear technology both for peaceful energy generation and as a critical component of its national security framework. Although proposals like an Irish Nuclear Policy Alliance aim to advance renewable energy initiatives, they must contend with Ireland's long-standing commitment to non-nuclear applications. This divergence in nuclear philosophy symbolises the broader strategic challenges that must be addressed for the two nations to harness their full potential as partners in innovation and sustainable development.

Despite these differences, there is considerable scope for collaboration in the renewable energy sector. Ireland and India have ambitious targets for transitioning to green energy, and their shared commitment to sustainability presents opportunities for joint initiatives in solar, wind, green hydrogen, and biomethane sectors. By pooling expertise and resources, the two nations could drive forward innovative projects that contribute to global climate goals while strengthening their bilateral relationship. Establishing collaborative ventures in these fields would allow Ireland and India to lead by example, demonstrating how nations with differing nuclear policies can find common ground through a shared vision for a greener future.

Shared Legacies and Unfulfilled Expectations

Ireland and India share a history of mutual struggles for freedom and democratic values. This shared legacy naturally made the two nations allies with considerable common ground. Despite this rich historical connection and aligned ideologies, the depth of contemporary bilateral relations has not yet met expectations. An urgent need is to reexamine and revitalise this partnership to ensure it fulfils its historical promise.

In a particularly poignant moment, Dr Jaishankar paid tribute to Ireland's former leader Éamon de Valera and his support for India's independence. He acknowledged de Valera's principled stand and solidarity with India's struggle for freedom, demonstrating how this historical bond inspires strong ties between the two nations.

The Indian Workforce: Backbone of Ireland's Service Sector

The contributions of the Indian workforce form a vital pillar of Ireland's service sector. In 2024, Ireland issued 39,390 work permits, of which 13,566 were granted to Indian nationals, comprising 35% of all permits issued.

According to the 2022 Census, approximately 64,426 people of Indian descent reside in Ireland. Despite this growing presence, India and Ireland have not established a Social Security Agreement (SSA). Such agreements exist between India and countries like Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, and France to prevent dual social security contributions and enable the totalisation of contribution periods for benefit eligibility.

The absence of an SSA with Ireland leaves Indian professionals vulnerable to double social security deductions without reciprocal benefits. This critical issue was notably absent from the agenda during the recent visit of the Indian minister to Ireland. Given the growing contribution of the Indian workforce to Ireland's economy, both nations must prioritise discussions on establishing a bilateral SSA. Such an agreement would protect the social security rights of Indian professionals and further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

Contrasting Relations with China

In a striking comparison, Ireland's relationship with China has reached unprecedented strategic heights, bolstering economic and diplomatic engagements that have rapidly expanded in recent years. This contrast highlights the untapped potential in the Ireland-India relationship and serves as a call to action for policymakers and industry leaders to recalibrate their engagement strategies. By leveraging historical ties and addressing current divergences—particularly in nuclear policy both nations have a unique opportunity to transform their bilateral relations into a model of 21st-century strategic partnership.

Conclusion

Dr Jaishankar's visit to Ireland resurrected dialogue on a multifaceted partnership spanning economic, academic, and strategic domains. As evidenced by bilateral trade in recent years, the prospects for enhanced trade and deeper economic cooperation are promising. However, the challenges posed by fundamentally different nuclear policies underscore the complexity of aligning mutual interests.

For Ireland and India, the task is to bridge the gap between shared historical bonds and contemporary strategic realities. Both nations, alongside their respective public and private sectors, must collaborate to transform untapped potential into actionable, forward-looking initiatives. Only by addressing these key issues can Ireland and India realise a partnership that honours their past and paves the way for a resilient and dynamic future.

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Location: Ireland

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