Overview

• Johann David Wadephul started in Bengaluru with a visit to ISRO before heading to New Delhi for Sept. 3 meetings with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
• Berlin says the talks will intensify cooperation across business, technology, space and security, with an emphasis on expanded defence and arms collaboration.
• Wadephul is urging faster progress on an EU–India Free Trade Agreement, arguing a deal could lift economic ties and stating his goal of concluding it this year.
• Skilled migration features prominently, with plans to speed visa issuance and strengthen language training to draw more Indian students and professionals to Germany.
• Discussions will also cover Russia’s war in Ukraine and concerns over China’s posture in the Indo-Pacific, while Wadephul called recent steps to normalise India–China ties positive news.