New Delhi is buzzing with anticipation as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz lands for a pivotal two-day visit to India. This trip marks his first official outing to the country as chancellor and his debut in Asia, underscoring the deepening ties between these two global powerhouses.
On Sunday, Chancellor Merz will hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on bolstering the strategic partnership that has flourished in recent years. Beyond diplomacy, he’ll join the vibrant International Kite Festival, blending culture with statecraft in a gesture of goodwill.
The India-Germany relationship stands on solid pillars: shared democratic values, booming trade and investment, enhanced defense cooperation, clean energy initiatives, cutting-edge science and technology collaborations, cultural exchanges, and a surging education partnership. Together, they’re shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific and Europe.
Germany ranks as one of India’s most critical partners in Europe. Historical bonds trace back to March 7, 1951, when India was among the first to establish diplomatic relations with the Federal Republic of Germany. Come 2026, both nations will celebrate 75 years of this enduring alliance.
A milestone came on May 18, 2000, with the signing of the India-Germany Partnership Agenda for the 21st Century, now marking 25 years in 2025. To commemorate, Foreign Ministers S. Jaishankar and Annalena Baerbock unveiled an official logo in May 2025.
Regular Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), led by the heads of government since 2011, review progress and identify new collaboration areas. The seventh IGC took place in New Delhi in October 2024.
Rooted in mutual respect for a rules-based international order and multilateralism, the duo consults closely and coordinates in global forums. As G4 members, they back each other’s push for UN Security Council expansion, with their latest foreign ministers’ meeting during the 80th UNGA in New York in September 2025.
Prime Minister Modi’s visits to Berlin in 2022 for the sixth IGC and Munich for the 48th G7 Summit paved the way. Chancellor Olaf Scholz reciprocated with a state visit in February 2023 and returned for the seventh IGC in October 2024. Post Germany’s new government, PM Modi connected with Chancellor Merz on May 20, 2025, followed by meetings at the G7 in Canada on June 17 and G20 in Johannesburg on November 22, 2025.
The Indian diaspora in Germany, numbering around 300,000 including 60,000 students, thrives as professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, nurses, and more. Recent surges in IT, banking, and finance sectors highlight their growing footprint.
This visit promises to propel bilateral relations to new heights, fostering prosperity and stability in an interconnected world.