German Chancellor Merz begins his first state go to to India – DW

[ad_1] Skip next section India and Germany on the verge of €8 billion submarine deal 01/12/2026 January 12, 2026 India and Germany on the verge of €8 billion submarine deal

Chancellor Friedrich Merz 's go to to India will probably ahead negotiations on a €8 billion ($9.3 billion) deal to collectively construct submarines in India, DW's Delhi Bureau Chief Sandra Petersmann confirmed.

The deal is more likely to be a central focus of the German chancellor's go to because the 25-member delegation of CEOs travelling with Merz consists of the CEO of Thyssen Krupp Maritime Methods (TKMS), Oliver Burkhard.

Shairee Malhotra, Deputy Director on the Observer Analysis Basis in New Delhi instructed DW that the deal is "essential" for each India and Germany.

"The submarine deal is essential as a result of it not solely helps India's protection modernization but additionally indigenization targets as a result of it'll additionally contain tech transfers for submarine productions," Malhotra mentioned.

"For Germany the deal is necessary as a result of it helps wean India off its conventional dependence on Russian navy tools whereas additionally enabling Germany to faucet into India's profitable protection market," she added.

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Skip next section WATCH: What New Delhi expects from Berlin 01/12/2026 January 12, 2026 WATCH: What New Delhi expects from Berlin

India-Germany ties: What New Delhi expects from Berlin To view this video please allow JavaScript, and take into account upgrading to an internet browser that supports HTML5 video

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Skip next section What you need to know about Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, Merz's two destinations 01/12/2026 January 12, 2026 What you have to learn about Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, Merz's two locations

Merz's first go to to India as chancellor will see him cease on the western metropolis of Ahmedabad and the southern metropolis of Bengaluru.

Listed here are some attention-grabbing info which will have influenced the German chancellor's itinerary:

Ahmedabad

Lies within the western state of Gujarat, on the banks of the Sabarmati River

Thought of by many as Narendra Modi's residence base and a stronghold of his ruling Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) get together

Often used for high-profile home and worldwide occasions

One among India's main industrial and industrial facilities

Key hub for various German and worldwide firms

Bengaluru (previously often called Bangalore)

Typically known as India's Silicon Valley

Thought of India's earliest and most influential know-how hub

Residence to many German firms (similar to: Siemens , Bosch, Mercedes-Benz)

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Skip next section What do we know about the schedule of Merz's visit to India? 01/12/2026 January 12, 2026 What do we all know concerning the schedule of Merz's go to to India?

Modi (left) and Merz have already met twice in 2025 Picture: DPR PMO/ANI Photograph German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India on Monday for a two-day official go to on the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi .

Merz is scheduled to fulfill Modi within the western metropolis of Ahmedabad on Monday.

"The 2 leaders will take inventory of the progress made in numerous elements of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which accomplished 25 years final yr," the Indian Overseas Ministry mentioned in a press release on the go to.

Merz and Modi will focus on deepening cooperation in sectors together with commerce, funding, know-how, training and defence.

The German chancellor can be attributable to go to the Gandhi Ashram, as soon as the residence of Mahatma Gandhi and a major middle for India's battle for freedom from British colonial rule.

On Tuesday, Merz is visiting Bengaluru (also referred to as Bangalore), the middle of India's high-tech trade.

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Skip next section Friedrich Merz arrives in Ahmedabad 01/12/2026 January 12, 2026 Friedrich Merz arrives in Ahmedabad

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India for a two-day inaugural go to. He landed in Ahmedabad. the most important metropolis within the state of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's residence area, shortly earlier than 2:00 a.m. native time on Monday.

Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for India's Ministry of Exterior Affairs welcomed the Chancellor on social media.

Modi will formally welcome Merz within the morning at a memorial to the nationwide hero, Mahatma Gandhi.

Ahmedabad welcomes Friedrich Merz on his first state go to to India Picture: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/image alliance

Massive indicators bearing pictures of Merz and Modi line the streets of the eight-million-person metropolis in welcome of the chancellor. Right this moment, the 2 leaders will attend the normal kite pageant collectively.

This pageant marks the transition from winter to summer time, with hundreds of paper kites taking to the skies. Solely then will the political talks start.

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Skip next section Welcome to our coverage of Merz's visit to India 01/12/2026 January 12, 2026 Welcome to our protection of Merz's go to to India Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz is touring to India for a two-day go to, his first since turning into chancellor in Could 2025.

Merz is because of go to Ahmedabad, the most important metropolis within the western state of Gujarat, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political residence base.

The go to, which kickstarts Merz's diplomatic actions this yr, comes forward of an EU-India summit later this month, the place a long-awaited free commerce settlement is broadly anticipated to be signed.