German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Visit India, Focus on Trade, Defence and Clean Energy

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will undertake a two-day official visit to India next week, marking his first trip to the country since assuming office in May 2025 . The visit is aimed at further strengthening India–Germany bilateral cooperation across key sectors such as trade, investment, defence and security, clean energy, and technology.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the German leader in Ahmedabad on January 12 , after which Merz will travel to Bengaluru , signalling the strong economic and technological focus of the visit, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The MEA said the visit “will build on the momentum generated by regular interactions at the highest political level” and provide an opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of both countries to develop a forward-looking partnership that contributes to global stability and prosperity.

The visit comes against a strong economic backdrop, with India–Germany bilateral trade reaching approximately USD 33.4 billion in 2024 , making Germany India’s largest trading partner in the European Union. Germany remains a key investor in India’s manufacturing, automobile, chemicals and engineering sectors, while India is emerging as an attractive destination for supply chain diversification.

Merz’s stop in Ahmedabad , a major industrial and investment hub, is widely seen as underscoring the investment-led agenda of the visit, while Bengaluru’s inclusion reflects the focus on technology, innovation, startups, research and development, and advanced manufacturing .

Defence and security cooperation is expected to figure prominently in the talks, highlighting the expanding strategic dimension of India–Germany relations. This includes defence industrial collaboration and discussions on maritime security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The visit also takes place amid ongoing discussions related to India’s Project 75(I) programme for building six next-generation submarines, in which German defence companies are key contenders, adding further strategic significance to the engagement.

Clean energy and sustainability are another important pillar of the bilateral relationship. India and Germany have already established a structured framework for cooperation in green hydrogen , including an Indo–German Green Hydrogen Roadmap that aligns India’s production ambitions with Germany’s long-term energy transition goals.

Merz’s visit comes at a time of heightened global uncertainty, including the continuing Ukraine conflict, energy security challenges and shifts in global supply chains. Germany has been seeking stronger partnerships with key Indo-Pacific countries, placing India prominently in its strategic calculus.

Overall, the visit is expected to reinforce India–Germany relations as a comprehensive strategic partnership , with an emphasis on economic growth, defence cooperation, technological collaboration and sustainable development, setting the tone for the next phase of bilateral engagement.