Merz is due to meet India’s Prime Minister Modi, on his first visit to India as a chancellor. The visit comes just weeks ahead of plans to sign a long-awaited free trade agreement between India and the EU. DW has more.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India
Friedrich Merz is undertaking his first major trip to Asia as chancellor, accompanied by a large business
India-Germany ties: What New Delhi expects from Berlin
As Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits India, New Delhi is seeking deeper trade, defence and technology cooperation with Germany amid shifting global alliances.
As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travels to India, Berlin and New Delhi are rethinking their partnership amid global uncertainty. India wants German investment, defense cooperation and advanced technology to balance China and reduce reliance on Russia. With US policy unpredictable, both countries see closer ties as strategic, even as differences over China and Russia.Live
German Chancellor Merz begins his first state visit to India
Merz is due to meet India’s Prime Minister Modi, on his first visit to India as a chancellor. The visit comes just weeks ahead of plans to sign a long-awaited free trade agreement between India and the EU. DW has more.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives at Sardar Vallabhbha Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India
Friedrich Merz is undertaking his first major trip to Asia as chancellor, accompanied by a large business
Germany’s Friedrich Merz has arrived in India on his first trip as chancellor
Merz will visit Ahmedabad, including the Gandhi Ashram
He will also pay a short visit to Bengaluru
The visit comes weeks ahead of the EU-India summit
Merz tours Mahatma Gandhi’s residence with Modi
Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the Sabarmati Ashram — Mahatma Gandhi’s residence during the Indian independence movement — in Gujarat with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday morning.
Gandhi, revered in India as “Father of the Nation,” is one of the country’s key historic figures known for leading the “Quit India” movement against British colonial rule and for his committment to non-violence.
Indian media outlets showed videos of the German chancellor touring the residence, signing the guestbook, and viewing the iconic spinning wheel that Gandhi used to make his own textiles. The spinning wheel is often seen as a symbol of India’s self-reliance.
Merz will visit Ahmedabad, including the Gandhi Ashram
He will also pay a short visit to Bengaluru
The visit comes weeks ahead of the EU-India summit.
