India and Germany are reinforcing their bilateral relationship. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and German Foreign Minister Johan David Wadephul met in Delhi to discuss key issues. They resolved to enhance their strategic partnership and to work together on global challenges. The visit marks the first time the German Foreign Minister has visited India, and it is among his earliest trips outside Europe. He experienced India’s technological and innovative prowess in Bengaluru and brought along a strong business delegation and members of parliament.
Talks included preparations for the upcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations. India hopes Germany will support the acceleration of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union. They also exchanged views on global and regional topics, including the Indo-Pacific, the Ukraine war, and the situation in West Asia. Jaishankar noted that India and Germany are celebrating 25 years of strategic partnership, 50 years of scientific cooperation, 60 years of cultural agreements, and over a century of business ties. He expressed confidence in the continued growth of their collaboration. Jaishankar stated, “We count on your assistance to deepen our ties with the European Union and to expedite the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.”
Germany is a major trading partner for India within Europe. In 2024-25, bilateral trade reached approximately $26 billion. The two countries have a history of mutual support within multilateral forums. Experts believe the visit of the German Foreign Minister will provide a new impetus to the relationship between India and Germany and create a foundation for concrete progress on the FTA. The upcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations are expected to further strengthen these partnerships. The German Foreign Minister, Johan Wadephul, began his two-day official visit to India in Bengaluru on Tuesday morning. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the visit, which is scheduled to last from September 2 to September 3.