Amid tensions on several other foreign policy fronts, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was the first of several high-level visitors to Delhi to strengthen India-Europe ties. The meet between Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad was about more than bilateral relations. Where India and Germany have a less common view is on the Ukraine war, and the European contention that India must curtail its relationship with Russia. Chancellor Merz may have overstepped as he sought to portray India’s German defence relationship as a means to reduce its “dependence” on Russian hardware. It is therefore doubly significant that Chancellor Merz made India his first stop in Asia.

Source: The Hindu January 13, 2026 22:54 UTC