India and Germany Sign Deals to Deepen Economic and Security Ties
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met in the western state of Gujarat on Monday to push for deeper economic and security ties between the South Asian country and Europe’s largest economy.
Modi and Merz held talks in the city of Gandhinagar; here the two countries signed several agreements to enhance cooperation in the defense sector, skill development, health and education; Both countries want to reduce dependence on China and strengthen economic ties.
After the bilateral talks, Modi noted that Germany is India’s most important trading partner in the European Union and said that both leaders are trying to expand these ties.
He said the two countries are pursuing new projects in areas such as climate action, energy and mining of rare earth elements, and also agreed on a roadmap to increase cooperation between defense industries for joint development and production.
“We want to take relations between India and Germany to an even higher level,” Modi said.
Germany has not traditionally had close defense ties with India, but both sides are trying to increase cooperation in the sector. Germany’s Thyssenkrupp is expected to partner with Indian firms to build six advanced conventional submarines in India as part of New Delhi’s ongoing efforts to modernize its naval capabilities.
Merz said India and Germany share “tremendous economic potential” and the two countries are working together to strengthen ties in the areas of security policy and defense cooperation.
“India is a desirable partner, a preferred partner for Germany,” Merz said, according to live official translation. He added that negotiations on a free trade agreement between India and the EU should be completed to fully realize the potential of economic ties between the two countries.
The two sides also signed an agreement making it easier for Indians to work in Germany’s healthcare sector.
Merz’s visit to India – also his first to an Asian country since taking office last year – comes ahead of an India-EU summit scheduled for later this month, where leaders hope to make progress on a long-pending free trade agreement. India hopes to deepen economic relations with Europe in the face of US tariff rates of 50%.
During his visit, Merz toured the Sabarmati Ashram, once the home of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, and attended the International Kite Festival held on the banks of the Sabarmati river. Modi and Merz flew kites during the event.
Accompanied by a large business delegation, Merz is later scheduled to travel to the southern city of Bengaluru to meet Indian and German business and technology leaders.
