When the Chancellor of Germany meets Prime Minister Modi on his visit to India on February 25, considering China as a common challenge, India-Germany will move towards further deepening their strategic relations. This is an important Indian visit of the German Chancellor after the introduction of the Inter-Governmental Consultation mechanism between the two countries in 2011.
Bilateral relations between the two countries will get new momentum
Before the Indian visit of the German Chancellor, official sources said that this visit of the Chancellor will give a new impetus to the bilateral relations between the two countries. Due to this, in the last year 2022, there has been a renewed engagement between the two countries and a shared vision on international issues. A senior official told ABP Live that the German Chancellor is visiting India at a time when the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is completing one year. The leaders of both the countries will also discuss the current situation of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Apart from this, India has planned to raise the issue of “China’s growing interference” in the Indo-Pacific region with Germany.
Since Germany has planned to send another frigate to the Indo-Pacific region. The official also said that the leaders of the two countries would mainly focus on economic, defense and security issues. Since Germany is also going to be in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and this will further strengthen strategic ties to stop China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Germany will send another frigate to India next year
Let us tell you that the German Navy’s frigate ‘Bayern’ was on a seven-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region from August-2021. She was called on January 21, 2022 through a port call at Mumbai. In an interview to ABP Live, German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, had earlier said that Germany, along with India and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region, will take necessary steps to deal with China’s challenges. Cameron also said in a press conference on Wednesday that Germany will send another frigate to India next year. He said that in 2022, PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz met on three occasions. Apart from this, German Foreign Minister Annalena Bierbock visited India in December-2022. Along with the German Chancellor, several parliamentary delegations have also visited India, including the Indo-German Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Budget Committee of the German Parliament.
There will be an emphasis on promoting economic relations between the two countries
During the German Chancellor’s visit, the stalled talks regarding the India-European Union free trade agreement proposed by both the sides are also expected to move forward. According to Ackermann, Germany is very keen to complete a draft soon to set up its business in India as German businesses are looking to set up shop in India other than China. He said that with the signing of the FTA, both the sides are expected to end the problems in the exchange of goods and services due to tariffs and non-tariffs.
Germany is India’s largest trading partner in the European Union
With this visit of the German Chancellor, B2B (Business to Business) agreements are expected to be signed between the two countries. Since Germany is India’s largest trading partner in the European Union and has consistently been among India’s top-10 global trading partners. Germany is one of the largest Foreign Direct Investors in India. He told that there is a strong possibility of increasing close economic ties and cooperation between the two countries. For this, there will also be a high powered business delegation team along with Chancellor Scholz. Sources said that during the visit, PM Modi and the German Chancellor will also address a business round table, which will be attended by top industry leaders from both sides.
