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India and Germany have agreed a range of deals to deepen cooperation between the two nations, with defence, trade and technology high on the agenda.
The agreements were made during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit two day visit to India on Monday.
Merz met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the western state of Gujarat, where both leaders set out plans to build on what they described as an “ever-stronger partnership”.
The talks come as India pushes to diversify its strategic ties, and as Germany seeks new partners amid shifting global trade patterns and political uncertainty.
The two sides signed multiple agreements covering defence industrial cooperation, renewable energy, skills development, health and education.
A key topic of discussion was the expansion of defence collaboration, including a roadmap for co-production and innovation between Indian and German defence industries.
The defence cooperation areas discussed ranged from sub-sea capabilities to training exchanges and shared technology development.
In a joint statement Modi emphasised the long history of India–Germany relations, noting that this year marks 75 years of diplomatic relations. “Growing trade and investment ties have given new energy to our strategic partnership,” he said.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has surged past $50 bn, underlining Germany’s position as India’s largest European trading partner.
Chancellor Merz reiterated Berlin’s support for concluding the long-pending EU-India trade pact and described India as a “partner of choice” for Germany.
Mr Merz also visited Sabarmati Ashram, the former home of Mahatma Gandhi, and took part in the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, reflecting a broader soft-power dimension to the trip.
Mr Merz’s visit is expected to continue with business engagements in India’s tech hub of Bengaluru, where officials hope to attract further investment and cement industrial links.
By visiting India, Merz follows in the footsteps of the UK and Russia whose leaders also visted the South Asian country in the last quarter of 2025.
Argentina has reiterated its interest in resuming talks with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, a disputed archipelago in the South Atlantic, after reports that an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing Washington’s support for the UK’s claim amid tensions over the Iran war.
Diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war are intensifying, with the White House confirming that U.S. President Donald Trump will send special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks with Iran under Pakistani mediation.
Russian emergency services have contained a major fire at the Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea coast, local officials said on Thursday, ending a four-day effort after a Ukrainian drone strike.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Azerbaijan for talks with President Ilham Aliyev, holding meetings in Gabala on Saturday (25 April) during a working visit to the country.
Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV Slovenia has confirmed it will not air the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, joining a widening boycott over Israel’s participation.
More than 1,000 firefighters are battling to contain two major wildfires in northern Japan for a fourth consecutive day, as flames advance towards residential areas and force thousands to flee.
Militants have staged coordinated attacks in Mali’s capital, Bamako, and several locations across the country, the army said on Saturday (25 April), in an assault apparently involving jihadist and Tuareg-led groups.
Two men were killed after the United States carried out a missile strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Friday (24 April), the military said.
Argentina has reiterated its interest in resuming talks with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, a disputed archipelago in the South Atlantic, after reports that an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing Washington’s support for the UK’s claim amid tensions over the Iran war.
China has urged the European Union to take its concerns seriously over new cybersecurity and digital regulations, warning they could create difficulties for Chinese companies operating in Europe.
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