New Delhi: German chancellor Olaf Scholz is currently on an official visit to India from October 24 to October 26 for the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations. Chancellor Scholz also visited India twice last year, a sign of burgeoning ties. On October 25, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will co-chair the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations and both leaders are expected to hold bilateral talks to discuss enhanced security and defence cooperation. Other key agendas of discussion would be greater opportunities for mobility of talent, deeper economic cooperation, green and sustainable development partnerships.
India and Germany have had a strategic partnership since 2000 which has only strengthened with time. The two countries are also celebrating 50 years of Science and Technology collaboration this year. A new era of bilateral ties is coming up which focuses on military collaboration and Scholz’s visit this time around is expected to focus on this aspect.
Of ‘special’ military ties
India and Germany have had strong, old ties that are steeped in both trade and culture. Some of the biggest Indologists have been German and the newly formed Republic of India was one of the first nations to end the State of War with Germany after World War II.
The ties between the two countries have in recent times only strengthened. This has been more so under the current German chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose visit at the moment comes at a critical time for Germany as its economy has been severely affected by the Ukrainian war and it battles China’s increasing global dominance. In order to rectify and combat this, it is betting on India and for straightening bilateral ties, increasing military collaboration is being seen as an important aspect.
Apart from military, trade is also key as Germany is India’s largest trading partner in the EU. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, in the 2023 financial year, India’s bilateral trade with Germany stood at US$26 billion. Nonetheless the most important pillar of further cooperation at the moment looks to be military.
It has to be first acknowledged that military ties between India and Germany have been minimal in the past. This has changed only recently. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius’ recent visit to India marks an important step in changing this. It was after this visit that German and Indian companies signed a pact aimed at building six advanced stealth diesel-electric submarines. In late February 2024, the defence ministers of India and Germany also met in Berlin to look at ways to further military cooperation between the two countries.
There now seems to be a clear political will in Germany to increase defence cooperation with India. Increased top-level visit, military drills, co-production and sharing of important technology are proof of this. India and Germany have also maintained consistent dialogue in the arena of commercial maritime security and anti-terrorism.
The Indian Navy and the German Navy conducted joint-exercises in 2008 for the first time. This came at the back of an anti-piracy cooperation agreement that both countries signed in 2006. Further such drills are also on the cards, which would work well for Germany who are looking to increase their presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
With the aim of strengthening military ties with India, Germany has accorded a special status to India which would accelerate approvals for military purchases. In line with this, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann said that Germany is awaiting the Indian government to complete its decision making processes with regard to the P-75I submarine deal. The multi-billion dollar deal will also be on the agenda of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. All signs point to a new era of military ties between India and Germany which should be looked at with optimism by both countries.
