German Chancellor arrives in India: Merz begins first official visit; talks with PM Modi focus on trade and defence

NEW DELHI: German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Monday for a two-day official visit to India from January 12 to 13. The visit comes at the invitation of PM Modi and marks Chancellor Merz’s first official trip to the country.PM Modi is scheduled to meet Merz in Ahmedabad today. Their itinerary includes a visit to the Sabarmati Ashram at around 9.30 am, followed by participation in the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront at around 10 am. Bilateral engagements will begin from 11.15 am onwards at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. During the meetings, the leaders are expected to review progress in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Discussions will focus on further intensifying cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, while advancing collaboration in defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties.The visit builds on momentum from regular high-level political interactions between India and Germany. The two leaders last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where they agreed to further broaden the bilateral strategic partnership. During that interaction, PM Modi extended an invitation to Merz for an official visit to India.The visit is also significant in the lead-up to the India-EU Summit scheduled for January 27. Speaking about India-Germany cooperation, German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann recently highlighted collaboration in defence and security, asserting that “the strategic partnership between the nations has grown over the years.”