India, Germany Seal Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation

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.

“The growing cooperation in defence and security is a symbol of our mutual trust and shared vision,” Modi said during a joint media interaction. Thanking Berlin for easing its traditionally stringent defence export procedures, he added, “I express my heartfelt gratitude to Chancellor Merz for simplifying the processes related to defence trade.”

Modi said India and Germany would now work on a dedicated roadmap to enhance defence industry ties. “This will open up new opportunities for co-development and co-production,” he noted.

Chancellor Merz framed the partnership in the context of what he described as “profound geopolitical changes and upheavals” globally. “Europe and trans-Atlantic relations remain important to us,” he said, adding that Germany now needs to build a wider network of partnerships. “India is a desired partner, a partner of choice for Germany, and the preconditions for a renewed, deepened and intensified partnership couldn’t be more favourable.”

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 India’s dependence on Russian military hardware. He said India’s defence procurement decisions are driven purely by national interest. “Our sourcing is not based on ideology,” 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. “It would be difficult to say exactly where we are at this point since the discussions have not concluded,” he said. “The 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.”

Modi and Merz also exchanged views on major global issues, including the Russia–Ukraine conflict, the situation in Gaza and developments in the Indo-Pacific. Referring to Ukraine and Gaza, Modi said, “India has always advocated for the peaceful resolution of all problems and disputes, and supports all efforts being made in this direction.”

He added that both countries were united in their approach to counterterrorism. “We agree that terrorism is a serious threat to all humanity. India and Germany will continue to fight it together with full determination,” Modi said.

Team BharatShakti