From Babush to Billions: Costa’s India Love
Goan Heart, Global Deal: Beating Trump at His Game
From Babush to Billions: Costa’s India Love. European Council President António Costa stole the show at the India-EU Summit on January 27, 2026, by pulling out his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. “I am President of the European Council, but I am also an Overseas Indian Citizen,” he said with a smile. “I’m very proud of my roots in Goa.” This personal touch came right after sealing the landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), hailed as the “mother of all deals” by PM Narendra Modi.
By Dr. Namrata Mishra Tiwari, Chief Editor, http://indiainput.com
Costa’s Special Connection
Born in 1961 in Portugal, Costa’s father hailed from Goa, a Portuguese colony until 1961. His family left after India’s liberation, but ties endured. In 2017, as Portuguese PM, Modi awarded him the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and OCI card, calling him a star of the diaspora. Childhood nickname “Babush”—common in Konkani—shows deep roots. Flashing the card beside Modi and Ursula von der Leyen, Costa said the moment felt personal, blending family history with diplomacy.
#BREAKING: EU Council President @eucopresident proudly displays his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card.
“I am President of the European Council but I am also an Overseas Indian Citizen. As you can imagine, it has a very special meaning. I am very proud of my roots in Goa.” pic.twitter.com/uxtTNhheN3
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 27, 2026
Shield from Trump Tariffs
Timing is perfect amid U.S. President Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian exports since August 2025. These hit $212 billion trade over Russian oil buys and BRICS stance, threatening jobs in jewelry and textiles. EU deal hedges risks, stabilizes supply chains, and deepens defense-green energy ties. Costa stressed it as a “geopolitical stabilizer” in a reshaped world, upholding multilateralism and UN rules.
Path Forward
Ratification in six months means gains by 2027. Costa’s gesture humanizes ties, easing visas for Indians and EU investments in “Make in India.” It boosts India’s multi-alignment—strong with Quad, Russia, BRICS—while countering U.S. pressures. For 1.4 billion Indians, it’s jobs, growth, and pride in shared heritage.
SOURCE : http://mygov.in
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