Berlin is making new efforts to advance its interests and strengthen its strategic partnership with India |
The German Chancellor made his first official visit to Asia and India on January 12-13, 2026, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 25th anniversary of the two countries’ strategic partnership.
However, despite serving as the EU’s envoy, he failed to achieve his long-awaited and cherished goal of displacing Russia as a key strategic partner of this major and influential global power.
Reorienting Berlin’s Ostpolitik
Merz began his journey to India not in New Delhi but in the Gujarat capital of Ahmedabad—Narendra Modi’s home state, where he headed the local government for many years before becoming prime minister in 2014.
Germany is traditionally India’s largest trade and economic partner among EU countries (bilateral trade turnover is approximately $50 billion). It is therefore no coincidence that the Chancellor and a large entourage of business representatives arrived in India to hold a business forum with their Indian partners. Following the talks, the leaders of both countries and private companies signed a declaration and 27 other documents designed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade and investment,........