Germany is pushing for closer security cooperation with India as part of a broader effort to reduce New Delhi’s long standing reliance on Russia for military equipment and energy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking alongside Modi in New Delhi, Merz said Germany wanted to expand defense and security collaboration with India, marking a key focus of his first official visit to the South Asian country since taking office.
The move reflects Berlin’s wider strategy to strengthen ties with major Indo Pacific partners while limiting Moscow’s influence following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Germany and India signed several memoranda of understanding during the visit, covering cooperation on security issues, critical minerals, healthcare, and the creation of an artificial intelligence innovation center.
Modi said the agreements would deepen economic and strategic ties between the two countries. He told reporters that both governments were committed to strengthening supply networks across key sectors.
“India and Germany are working together to build secure, trusted and resilient supply chains,” Modi said at a joint news conference. “The MoUs being signed today on all these issues will give new momentum and strength to our cooperation.”
Officials said the agreements aim to reduce supply vulnerabilities while encouraging technology sharing and industrial collaboration.
Despite growing engagement with Western partners, India continues to maintain close ties with Russia. Much of its military hardware is of Russian origin, and India remains one of Moscow’s largest buyers of oil and gas alongside China.
German officials said Berlin has urged New Delhi to ensure Indian companies do not bypass Western sanctions imposed on Russia and to gradually curb energy imports from Moscow. Indian authorities have so far resisted those demands, arguing that energy security remains a national priority.
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India has defended its position by pointing to long standing defense relationships and the need for affordable fuel supplies amid global price pressures.
Merz also used the visit to call for renewed momentum in trade negotiations between India and the European Union. He said Germany hoped talks on a long delayed free trade agreement could be wrapped up soon, with his visit intended to support progress toward a deal by the end of January.
The German leader warned that rising trade barriers posed risks to both economies.
“The world is experiencing a renaissance of protectionism,” Merz said, adding that such trends hurt export driven countries like Germany and fast growing economies like India.