New Delhi: External Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to embark on a six-day official visit to Europe, which starts on Monday (May 19), according to a statement released by the Ministry External of Affairs. He will be visiting the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany. The trip will end on May 24 (Saturday).
This visit will allow India to explore its vision of getting strategic engagement with European partners. Trade, renewable energy, technology, people-to-people ties and innovation are the topics which will be focused in the discussions.
Jaishankar’s visit to Germany comes at a time when Friedrich Merz has assumed the office of Federal Chancellor in May this year after winning the second vote in parliament, though he suffered defeat in the first round.
India also maintains cordial relations with the other two European nations. India-Danish relations are founded on the basis of historical connections, democratic values and mutual aspirations for peace. The bilateral agreement of the two nations is currently guided by the Green Strategic Partnership, according to MEA.
India and the Netherland share diplomatic relations over 75 years. Strong political and economic ties between the countries are because of regular exchanges, according to the MEA.
Meanwhile, the India-Germany strategic partnership is over seven decades, and the MEA highlights that India was the first one to build relations with the country after the World War II.
Jaishankar’s visit to these European countries comes on the back of signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom, wherein 99 per cent Indian products got eliminated of tariffs. While announcing the FTA agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed it as ‘historic milestone’.
Last month, Jaishankar said that India was geared up for a high degree 0f urgency in striking negotiations with many countries, including European Union in the middle of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
