Dr Jaishankar’s visit reinforces India-Germany bond, mark 25 years of strategic partnership
New Delhi, May 24: Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister (EAM), concluded a three-day visit to the Federal Republic of Germany from May 22 to 24, 2025, marking a renewed push to deepen the India-Germany Strategic Partnership. His trip came within a month of the formation of Germany’s new federal government and coincided with the 25th anniversary of the two nations’ strategic partnership, a symbolic convergence highlighting the growing weight both countries attach to bilateral ties.
The visit set the tone for fresh engagement with the new administration in Berlin, injecting momentum into cooperation across political, economic, technological, and people-to-people domains. Germany, a strong advocate of closer India-EU ties, reaffirmed its support for the early conclusion of the long-pending Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union.
Dr. Jaishankar held a series of high-level meetings during his stay, reflecting the breadth of shared strategic interests. He called on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and extended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings to the new German leadership. Chancellor Merz, in turn, reiterated Germany’s commitment to further elevating the increasingly multifaceted partnership with India.
His talks with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul covered an expansive agenda, including defence cooperation, digital and emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, green and sustainable development, and talent mobility. The ministers also launched the official logo commemorating the 25th year of their Strategic Partnership. Both sides emphasised their common stand on countering terrorism without exception, supporting a rules-based international order, and upholding international law amid global geopolitical shifts. The EAM also engaged in substantive discussions with Dr. Günter Sautter, Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to the Chancellor. Their talks focused on strengthening cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity, the Indo-Pacific, and joint defence industrial ventures, sectors where India and Germany increasingly see each other as key partners. With economic diplomacy high on the agenda, Dr. Jaishankar met with Ms. Katherina Reiche, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, to explore avenues to expand bilateral and India-EU trade and investment ties. EAM also interacted with German Parliamentarians across party lines, engaging in a constructive exchange of views on global and regional affairs while exploring ways to strengthen political and technological cooperation. A notable highlight of the visit was his participation in a high-level dialogue at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), where Dr. Jaishankar addressed foreign and security policy experts on global security challenges and the role of India-Germany cooperation in fostering international stability. Rounding off the visit, the External Affairs Minister chaired a regional Heads of Missions Conference, bringing together Indian Ambassadors and High Commissioners posted across European countries to chart the way forward for India’s engagement with the continent.
