India and Germany: S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, said on Wednesday that Germany is a trustworthy ally of India in current unstable climate and that the significance of “predictability” has grown in today’s world politics. He underlined that India and the European Union (EU) as well as India and Germany need to work together more closely at this time of political unpredictability and economic turbulence. Following his discussion with his German colleague Johann Wadeful, Jaishankar made this declaration. Wadeful is in India for two days.

Jaishankar was alluding to the US’s capricious actions without specifically mentioning the US or the Donald Trump administration. Wadeful agreed with him, stating that in these unpredictable times, predictable relationships and dependable connections are crucial.

According to Jaishankar, India is grateful for Germany’s assistance in granting it complete authority to combat terrorism in order to safeguard its population. “India has the full right to protect its people against terrorism and Germany stands with it,” Wadephul said.

The two ministers decided to increase defense cooperation even further. According to Jaishankar, the German Air Force and Navy have lately taken part in India’s military drills, and this will continue. Indian talent can further enhance Germany’s capabilities, he added, welcoming German investment in the semiconductor manufacturing sector. Additionally, there has been development in student exchange and education between the two nations. The largest group of international students studying in Germany are Indians. “After finishing their studies in Germany, many Indian students prefer to work here and are proving to be an asset for the country’s labor market,” Wadeful added.

According to Jaishankar, India hopes to work with Germany to finalize the India-EU free trade agreement. In the next months, Wadeful said, he hopes a deal can be achieved. “We should respond by lowering the barriers if other nations erect trade barriers,” he said.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Wadeful said that India may leverage its ties with Russia to push for peace negotiations. “India should push for peace talks with Russia, even though we don’t always agree 100%,” he said.

China is sometimes a collaborator, sometimes a competitor, and sometimes a systemic opponent for Germany and the European Union, according to Wadeful. He said unequivocally that the market must be protected in light of China’s growing hostile posture.

Wadeful met with Narendra Modi, the prime minister as well. “India and Germany are commemorating 25 years of our strategic partnership,” Prime Minister Modi said. We have thriving economies and are democratic nations. We have enormous potential together in fields like innovation, commerce, technology, sustainable development, and transportation.

India-Germany ties are ongoing and reliable, according to Jaishankar. According to him, last year’s bilateral commerce between the two nations was close to 50 billion euros. He promised that any issue raised by German businesses making investments in India would be given top consideration.