A meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and German Foreign Minister Johan David Wadephul in Delhi underscored the strengthening relationship between India and Germany. Discussions centered on deepening strategic partnership and collaborating on global issues. This visit is significant as it is the German Foreign Minister’s inaugural visit to India, and among his initial international trips outside Europe. He observed India’s technological and innovative capacity in Bengaluru, accompanied by a significant business delegation and Members of Parliament.
The meeting addressed the preparations for upcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations. India hopes Germany will aid in accelerating negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union. Discussions also covered global and regional matters such as the Indo-Pacific, the Ukraine conflict, and the situation in West Asia. Jaishankar noted the celebration of 25 years of strategic partnership, 50 years of scientific collaboration, 60 years of cultural agreements, and more than a century of business ties between the two nations. He expressed confidence in the continued enhancement of this cooperation. During the talks, Jaishankar stated, “We look forward to your support in deepening our relationship with the European Union and accelerating the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.”
Germany serves as India’s primary trading partner within Europe. Bilateral trade reached approximately $26 billion in 2024-25. The two countries have a long history of mutual support in various multilateral forums. Experts believe the German Foreign Minister’s visit will give a new direction to the India-Germany relations and establish a basis for concrete progress on the FTA. The upcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations are anticipated to reinforce these partnerships. German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul arrived in Bengaluru on Tuesday morning for a two-day official visit to India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the visit would take place from September 2 to September 3.