Modi–Merz Meeting: Strengthening India-Germany Cooperation for Global Stability

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held restricted and delegation-level talks in Gandhinagar on January 12, 2026, reaffirming their commitment to significantly deepen the India-Germany Strategic Partnership. The leaders called for injecting fresh momentum into bilateral ties and elevating cooperation in line with evolving global and regional challenges. Noting that India, the world's fourth-largest economy, and Germany, the world's third-largest economy, are natural and complementary partners, they underscored the depth of mutual trust and shared democratic values as the foundation of the Strategic Partnership.

The visit marked a significant milestone, with 2026 signifying 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations, following the completion of 25 years of Strategic Partnership in 2025. Chancellor Merz's visit to India is his first official trip to India and his first to Asia since assuming office, underlining the priority Germany places on India as a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific.

Advancing Defence and Security Cooperation

Defence and security cooperation featured prominently in the bilateral discussions. Both leaders agreed to further strengthen defence and security ties through institutionalised staff talks, service-level exchanges, and joint military exercises. They endorsed deeper military-to-military cooperation, including enhanced training, port calls, and senior-level exchanges.

India welcomed Germany's participation in major defence engagements, including Naval Exercise MILAN, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs scheduled for February 2026, and Air Combat Exercise TARANG SHAKTI later in the year. Germany's decision to deploy a Liaison Officer to the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region was also welcomed.

A Joint Declaration of Intent was signed to develop a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, aimed at promoting long-term collaboration through co-development, co-production, and technology partnerships. Both leaders also established a new Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue to further strengthen bilateral engagement on strategic matters.

The leaders reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, and pledged enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism, including through UN mechanisms.

Strengthening Trade, Economy, and Technology Ties

Trade and economic relations featured prominently in the discussions. The leaders noted that bilateral trade in goods and services surpassed USD 50 billion in 2024, accounting for over a quarter of India's trade with the European Union. They reaffirmed their strong support for concluding the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, describing it as critical to unlocking the full potential of India-EU economic ties and a key outcome of the upcoming EU-India Summit.

Both sides welcomed significant agreements aimed at deepening cooperation in semiconductors, critical minerals, telecommunications, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence. The leaders welcomed plans to establish institutional dialogue across the semiconductor value chain and intensify collaboration in research and development.

A Critical Minerals and Semiconductor Intent Agreement was signed, reflecting the two nations' commitment to strengthening technology, manufacturing, and supply chain linkages. Chancellor Merz emphasised that these deepening technology and industrial partnerships would enable both countries to diversify their strategic dependencies and build resilient, secure supply chains.

Advancing Green and Sustainable Development

Both leaders reviewed significant progress made under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP). They noted that nearly €5 billion of Germany's €10 billion commitment up to 2030 has already been utilised or earmarked for projects in renewable energy, green mobility, climate-resilient infrastructure, and sustainable urban development.

New funding commitments were welcomed, along with the launch of joint working groups on battery storage, solar manufacturing, and wind energy. The leaders established an India-Germany Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy to further boost cooperation in green technologies and innovation.

Both leaders also emphasised cooperation on green hydrogen, welcoming the alignment between India's National Green Hydrogen Mission and Germany's National Hydrogen Strategy. A major green ammonia offtake agreement between Indian and German companies was also welcomed, demonstrating the private sector's commitment to advancing green energy solutions.

Global and Regional Perspectives

The leaders exchanged views on issues of regional and global importance. They reiterated their support for a free and open Indo-Pacific, respect for international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and announced a new bilateral Indo-Pacific consultation mechanism to enhance strategic coordination.

Both sides reaffirmed their backing for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and called for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to better reflect contemporary global realities.

Both leaders expressed the urgency for accelerated global climate action and enhanced climate finance to support developing countries in their transition to sustainable development.

Education, Skill Development, and People-to-People Ties

People-to-people exchanges and human capital development were identified as priority areas for strengthening the bilateral relationship. Both sides welcomed the growing exchange of students, researchers, and skilled professionals between the two nations.

Prime Minister Modi particularly appreciated Germany's decision to allow visa-free transit facilities for Indian passport holders, describing it as a significant boost to travel and mutual exchanges. A new framework was established to facilitate enhanced opportunities for Indian healthcare professionals and skilled workers in Germany, particularly in the IT and engineering sectors where demand remains strong.

The leaders welcomed new agreements on higher education, skilling, renewable energy training, sports cooperation, maritime heritage, and youth exchanges, further strengthening cultural and social links between the two nations. An agreement was signed for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in collaboration with the German Maritime Museum, reflecting the two nations' shared cultural heritage.

Memorandums of Understanding and Key Outcomes

Following the bilateral talks, both sides exchanged and adopted Memorandums of Understanding and other formal understandings, covering the following areas:

• Defence and Security: Joint Declaration of Intent on Defence Industrial Cooperation; Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue framework

  
  

• Trade and Economy: Critical Minerals and Semiconductor Intent Agreement; institutional dialogue mechanisms across the semiconductor value chain

  
  

• Critical and Emerging Technologies: Cooperative frameworks in artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and telecommunications

  
  

• Science and Technology: Expanded research and development partnerships

  
  

• Renewable Energy: India-Germany Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy; cooperation on battery storage, solar manufacturing, and wind energy

  
  

• Green Hydrogen: Alignment of national strategies; facilitation of green ammonia initiatives

  
  

• Education and Skilling: Higher education partnerships; skill development framework for healthcare professionals and IT/engineering sectors; visa-free transit facility for Indian nationals

  
  

• Culture and Heritage: Agreement on National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal; cooperation with the German Maritime Museum

  
  

• Sports: Enhanced bilateral sports cooperation and exchanges

  
  

• People-to-People Ties: Youth exchange programmes and cultural initiatives

  
  

Both leaders reiterated that these outcomes would create new opportunities for citizens and businesses, particularly young people, while reinforcing the India-Germany partnership as a dynamic force for shared prosperity, global stability, and progress.

Chancellor Merz thanked Prime Minister Modi for the warm hospitality extended during the visit. Both leaders agreed that the next India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations would be held in Germany later in 2026, reaffirming their shared commitment to elevating the Strategic Partnership to new heights and strengthening the bonds between their two great democracies.