New Delhi: Later this week, ties between India and Germany are expected to get a renewed strategic vigour with China as a “common challenge” when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25. This is the first standalone visit of a German Chancellor to India since the commencement of the Inter-Governmental Consultation (IGC) mechanism between the two countries in 2011.
The Chancellor’s visit will “imbue fresh momentum” to the bilateral relations, which saw “renewed engagement and focus” in 2022, official sources said ahead of the visit.
Apart from discussions on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that is going to complete a year on February 24, India plans to raise the issue of “challenge of China” in the Indo-Pacific with Germany even as Berlin plans to send yet another frigate to India in early 2024, a senior official told ABP Live.
The official also said India and Germany will focus mainly on economic and defence and security issues in this visit as Germany joining India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) has given a much-needed boost to strategic ties.
German naval frigate ‘Bayern’ was on a seven-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific from August 2021 and made a port call in Mumbai on January 21, 2022.
In an interview to ABP Live, Philipp Ackermann, Ambassador of Germany to India, had earlier said Germany along with India and other countries will work out “appropriate measures” against China.
READ | Russia-Ukraine War, China, German Firms' India Focus Top Agenda Of Chancellor Scholz's Visit: Envoy
The envoy also said at a press conference Wednesday that Germany will be sending another frigate to India next year.
PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz met on three occasions in 2022. Apart from that, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited India in December 2022. There have been several parliamentary delegations from Germany, including the India-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group (January 29 - February 4, 2023) and the Budget Committee of the German Parliament (February 13-17, 2023).
Boosting India-Germany Economic Ties
During the visit, both sides are expected to also give a push to the hitherto stalled negotiations for the proposed India-European Union free trade agreement.
According to Ackermann, German businesses are “extremely keen” on having the deal concluded soon as they look to diversify from China and set up shops in India. The FTA is expected to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers for both sides.
The visit will see the conclusion of B2B agreements.
Germany is India’s largest trade partner in the European Union and has consistently been among India’s top ten global trade partners. It is also one of the largest foreign direct investors in India.
As a symbol of close economic ties and the strong potential for enhanced cooperation, Chancellor Scholz will be accompanied by a high-powered business delegation. During the visit, PM and Chancellor will also address a Business Roundtable, comprising of top industry leaders from both sides, sources said.