Merz's India Trip Deepens Germany-India Defense, Trade and Talent Ties
Leaders set a course for an EU–India trade deal, with formal consultations slated in Berlin later this year.
Overview
- Germany and India signed a memorandum of understanding in Gujarat to expand cooperation between their defense industries.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Narendra Modi identified security, economic relations, and education and skilled labor as the partnership’s focal areas.
- Both sides agreed to intensify work on critical minerals, artificial intelligence and digitisation, and the chancellor urged swift completion of EU–India free trade negotiations.
- Germany outlined pathways for legal, orderly migration and training links, including dual education, targeted visas and partnerships between universities and companies.
- Merz traveled with a large business delegation to bolster commercial ties, with bilateral trade near $50 billion and more than 2,000 German firms active in India.