![](https://bharatshakti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LT-BSI-Defence.gif")
India and Germany on Monday agreed on a comprehensive roadmap to deepen defence industrial cooperation, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz underscored the need for reliable strategic partnerships amid global geopolitical turbulence.
Merz, on a two-day visit to India, held talks with Modi in Ahmedabad, where the two sides finalised 19 agreements spanning defence, security, foreign policy coordination and the Indo-Pacific. Central to the outcomes was a joint declaration of intent aimed at strengthening bilateral defence industrial collaboration, including co-development and co-production opportunities.
тАЬThe growing cooperation in defence and security is a symbol of our mutual trust and shared vision,тАЭ Modi said during a joint media interaction. Thanking Berlin for easing its traditionally stringent defence export procedures, he added, тАЬI express my heartfelt gratitude to Chancellor Merz for simplifying the processes related to defence trade.тАЭ
Modi said India and Germany would now work on a dedicated roadmap to enhance defence industry ties. тАЬThis will open up new opportunities for co-development and co-production,тАЭ he noted.
Chancellor Merz framed the partnership in the context of what he described as тАЬprofound geopolitical changes and upheavalsтАЭ globally. тАЬEurope and trans-Atlantic relations remain important to us,тАЭ he said, adding that Germany now needs to build a wider network of partnerships. тАЬIndia is a desired partner, a partner of choice for Germany, and the preconditions for a renewed, deepened and intensified partnership couldnтАЩt be more favourable.тАЭ
Both leaders emphasised the importance of trusted partnerships in an increasingly uncertain global environment. The agreements also included the launch of a Track 1.5 foreign policy and security dialogue and a dedicated dialogue on the Indo-Pacific, signalling closer coordination on defence and security issues.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later addressed questions on defence cooperation, including suggestions that closer ties with Germany could reduce IndiaтАЩs dependence on Russian military hardware. He said IndiaтАЩs defence procurement decisions are driven purely by national interest. тАЬOur sourcing is not based on ideology,тАЭ Misri said.
On the proposed submarine deal involving German defence major ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (tKMS), Misri said discussions were moving in a positive direction, though negotiations were still ongoing. тАЬIt would be difficult to say exactly where we are at this point since the discussions have not concluded,тАЭ he said. тАЬThe Defence Ministry would have a better sense of that. But what I can say is that discussions are proceeding positively, and we hope to see a positive outcome.тАЭ
Modi and Merz also exchanged views on major global issues, including the RussiaтАУUkraine conflict, the situation in Gaza and developments in the Indo-Pacific. Referring to Ukraine and Gaza, Modi said, тАЬIndia has always advocated for the peaceful resolution of all problems and disputes, and supports all efforts being made in this direction.тАЭ
He added that both countries were united in their approach to counterterrorism. тАЬWe agree that terrorism is a serious threat to all humanity. India and Germany will continue to fight it together with full determination,тАЭ Modi said.
Team BharatShakti
