“All right, everything is fine.” This is how India’s prime minister describes the relationship with Germany. Even the different attitudes towards Russia are understood as an opportunity in government consultations.
Regardless of different attitudes towards Russia, Germany and India are even closer together. At the government consultations in New Delhi, 27 agreements were concluded to expand cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, research and defense. Chancellor Olaf Scholz also campaigned for skilled workers for the German labor market and advocated for more speed in the EU negotiations with India on a free trade agreement. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi summarized the status of the relationships between the two countries in German briefly and briefly with the words: “All right, everything is good.”
Several ministers took part in the seventh government consultations of the two countries on both sides. The federal government organizes such peaks with particularly narrow or important partners.
Hug with Putin – handshake with Scholz
Modi war erst am Donnerstag von einer Russland-Reise zurückgekehrt, wo er beim Brics-Gipfel in Kasan den russischen Präsidenten Wladimir Putin zum wiederholten Mal herzlich umarmte. There were no such gestures with Scholz in Delhi, it was just a handshake. But the Chancellor received warm words. Scholz gave the relationships “swing and new energy”, said Modi. The “partnership between two major democracies of the world” must be further modernized and strengthened.
With more than 1.4 billion inhabitants, India is the most populous country and the fifth largest economy in the world. Scholz said there was “a lot of potential” when trading the South Asian country and for investments. Bei der Anwerbung von Fachkräften gehe es darum, noch mehr Menschen aus Gesundheit, Pflege oder der IT-Branche “für Deutschland zu begeistern”. Last week, the federal cabinet approved a 30-point plan to make immigration easier.
Modi wants to contribute to peace in Ukraine
Even in the Russian attack war against Ukraine, both sides are now trying to understand the differences as an opportunity. Germany is firmly on the side of Ukraine and equips them with weapons on a large scale. Indien verhält sich dagegen neutral, ist wirtschaftlich und militärisch eng mit Russland verflochten hat den russischen Angriff auf die Ukraine in der UN-Vollversammlung anders als die große Mehrheit der Staaten nicht verurteilt. Die gleichermaßen guten Beziehungen zu Moskau und zum Westen könnten Indien jetzt aber zum Vermittler in den diplomatischen Bemühungen um ein Ende des Krieges machen.
“India’s perspective has always been that problems cannot be solved through war,” said Modi after his conversation with Scholz. “India is ready to contribute everything to restore peace.”
Free trade agreement “more in months than in years”
The most important economic policy issue in New Delhi was the talks about the free trade agreement, which began 17 years ago but have so far been unsuccessful. At a business conference, Scholz called for “rapid progress and a quick conclusion” of the negotiations. “If we are working together, Mr Prime Minister, it could work in months than in years,” he said to Modi.
Minister of Economics Robert Habeck also said about the negotiations: “Let’s now make a new start.” He had already brought the idea into play the day before, initially arranging a limited agreement.
Negotiations were frozen in 2013 and resumed in 2022. There are problems with the high Indian tariffs on cars, the protection of intellectual property in the pharmaceutical industry and the opening of markets in the agricultural sector, with which India in particular has problems.
Negotiations on submarine deal
The cooperation in the military area is also about Russia. The Indian armed forces currently move into their military equipment mainly from there. Germany would like to help change. Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is currently negotiating to build six submarines for the Indian Navy. The Bundeswehr also maintains close contacts. A German frigate and a supply ship are currently underway off the Indian coast to take part in a joint exercise. On Saturday, Scholz will visit the soldiers in the western state of Goa.
“Our overarching message is: We need more cooperation, not less,” said Scholz. With regard to its powerful neighbor China, he reiterated: “We must avoid one-sided dependencies, especially in areas of strategic importance – critical raw materials and certain technologies, for example.”
Modi wants to bring investments into the country
Modi sought foreign investment in his country. There are growth opportunities in climate-friendly hydrogen and semiconductors, for example. “India offers an excellent platform for investments in these areas,” said Modi, according to his translator. India is also strong in artificial intelligence. There are endless opportunities for start-ups and a strong expansion of the infrastructure. The railway network will be expanded and new airports will be built.
There is also a so -called secret protection agreement among the signed agreements. Such agreements offer a framework for the exchange of confidential information between the authorities and companies of the states involved. For example, it can be about security policy.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
