German Chancellor Merz Visits India for Talks with PM Modi

At Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an official visit to Gujarat on Monday. The goal of Merz's first official visit to India is to deepen bilateral relations between Germany and India. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat welcomed the German Chancellor at the airport in Ahmedabad.

Welcoming Merz, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on the social media platform X,

“India and Germany are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations and 25 years of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership. Chancellor Merz’s visit and his meeting with PM Narendra Modi later today will further strengthen the India-Germany partnership.”

Merz is set to meet with Prime Minister Modi in Ahmedabad. After that, both leaders will attend the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront. Next, they will engage in bilateral talks at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, as stated by the Prime Minister's Office.

According to the statement, the two leaders will review the progress of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which has recently reached 25 years. They will discuss ways to improve cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skill development, and mobility. They will also work on collaboration in defense and security, science, innovation, research, green and sustainable development, and connections between people.

The leaders will share opinions on regional and global issues. They will also meet with business and industry leaders from both countries. Before Chancellor Merz’s visit, German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann met with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh last week. They talked about security and defense cooperation between the two countries. They also covered key areas for developing and producing defense equipment together.

“German Ambassador Dr. Philipp Ackermann called on Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh today. The Ambassador conveyed New Year greetings on behalf of the German side. They also discussed a range of bilateral security and defense issues, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of defense equipment,” the Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, said in a post on X.

On the edge of the G20 Summit in South Africa in November of last year, Prime Minister Modi met with Chancellor Merz. India-Germany relations, according to PM Modi, are robust and growing in important areas like trade, technology, and innovation.