Bangladesh, Sept. 26 -- For all of Europes talk of modernity, liberal values, and economic openness, the European Union (EU) continues to betray an outdated colonial mindset whenever it deals with countries outside its club of mostly Western nations. The ongoing free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India serve as a striking example of this problem. What should have been a straightforward discussion about tariffs, market access, and economic complementarities has instead been mired in political posturing, strategic overreach, and misplaced arrogance by Brussels.

At its heart, the EU still struggles to accept that India is no longer a “lesser” nation to be lectured, coerced, or dictated to. India today represents 1.4 bi...