India and Germany have outlined a broad, future-focused roadmap to deepen their strategic partnership, following the first official visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India from January 12–13 2026. This was also Merz’s first trip to Asia as the German chancellor.
On Monday, he was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat. On Tuesday, he landed at Bengaluru. Karnataka Minister for Large & Medium Industries M.B. Patil and senior government officials received him at the airport. He is scheduled to visit the India GQ of German tech major Bosch at Adugodi later in the day.
A detailed joint statement issued after his talks with PM Modi on Monday highlighted major new cooperation plans in defence, technology, trade, green energy, education and people-to-people ties.
Chancellor Merz, accompanied by a high-powered delegation including 23 top German CEOs, made India his first destination in Asia as Federal Chancellor, signalling Berlin’s priority for ties with New Delhi.
The leaders met in Ahmedabad on Monday, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram and took part in the famous kite festival, before holding formal talks and addressing the India–Germany CEOs Forum. Germany’s role as a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific and 25 years of the India–Germany Strategic Partnership formed the backdrop to the visit.
Defence, security, and global issues
India and Germany agreed to strengthen defence cooperation, including a new Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap for long-term co-development and co-production of military platforms.
Germany plans to participate in the naval exercise MILAN, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs and air exercise Tarang Shakti in 2026, and will post a liaison officer at the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region.
Both sides condemned terrorism in all forms, specifically referring to attacks in Pahalgam and Delhi in 2025, and pledged closer counter-terrorism collaboration.
Trade, technology, and green agenda
Bilateral trade in goods and services has crossed $50 billion in 2024, over a quarter of India’s trade with the EU, and both sides want to push this further, including through an India–EU Free Trade Agreement.
New joint declarations cover semiconductor ecosystem partnership, critical minerals, telecommunications and an expanded innovation and technology partnership.
Under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership, Germany has already used or earmarked about 5 billion euros from its 10‑billion‑euro commitment till 2030 for climate and sustainable development projects in India.
Education, mobility, and people
The two leaders on Monday welcomed growing numbers of Indian students and professionals in Germany and agreed to deepen educational and research links, including an Indo-German roadmap on higher education.
Germany would also offer visa-free transit for Indian passport holders and expand legal skilled migration under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, including a Global Skills Partnership focused on healthcare workers.
The next round of India–Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations will be held in Germany later in 2026.
From transit visa to military exercises: Key developments from German Chancellor Merz’s maiden India visit
