Defence and security cooperation can become key pillar of India-Germany Strategic Partnership: PM Modi

Security and defence cooperation can become an important pillar of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in New Delhi on Saturday. The two nations would work together to tap the untapped potential in this sphere, he added.

Speaking to the media, Prime Minister Modi pointed out that there is active cooperation between the two sides in the fight against terrorism and separatism. India and Germany also agree on the need for strong action to end cross-border terrorism, he noted.

Prime Minister Modi described the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership announced during his visit to Germany in 2022 as an example of new dimensions that were being added to bilateral ties to reflect today’s changing needs.

‘USE DIALOGUE AND DIPLOMACY IN UKRAINE’

Prime Minister Modi pointed out that India had been pressing for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the situation in Ukraine since the very beginning. In this regard, he reiterated that India was ready to contribute to any peace process.

The two leaders also agreed on the need to reform multilateral institutions to reflect contemporary realities, Prime Minister Modi said. He also referred to India’s active participation in the G4 to bring about reforms in the United Nations Security Council.

Prime Minister Modi said India and Germany have strong ties based on shared democratic values. “The increasing cooperation between the two largest democratic economies of the world is not only beneficial for the people of both the countries, it also sends a positive message in today’s stress-ridden world,” he stressed.

India and Germany are also increasing mutual ties for development of third countries under triangular development cooperation, Prime Minister Modi added.

Visit an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral ties

The talks took place shortly after Chancellor Scholz landed in New Delhi on his first visit to India after assuming office. The two-day State visit 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.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had earlier said the focus of the talks would be on strengthening bilateral cooperation and forging closer defence ties.

“PM @narendramodi welcomes @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz at Hyderabad House for bilateral talks. Focus of the talks will be on strengthening bilateral cooperation, building on the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership and economic partnership, and forging closer ties in defence,” Bagchi wrote on Twitter.

On Monday, the MEA had said that Chancellor Scholz’s visit will enable both sides to take stock of progress on the key outcomes of the 6th IGC, strengthen security and defence cooperation, work towards closer economic ties, enhance opportunity for mobility of talent and give strategic guidance to ongoing collaboration in Science & Technology.

This was the fourth meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Scholz since 2022.

They met during the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations when PM Modi visited Berlin on May 2, 2022. The second meeting took place when Chancellor Scholz invited Prime Minister Modi for the G7 Summit held under the German Presidency in Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, in June 2022. The two leaders also interacted on the sidelines of the G20 Summit held in Bali in November 2022.