Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held talks in Ahmedabad on Monday morning and decided to strengthen ties in several sectors, including defence, trade, technology, renewable energy and education, following which the two sides finalised a staggering “27 outcomes”. These included 19 pacts that encompassed a joint declaration of intent to develop a defence industrial cooperation roadmap, as the two sides seek to strengthen co-development and co-production of defence platforms.
On Wednesday, India and Germany pledged to increase their bilateral trade twofold and accelerate discussions regarding a long-anticipated free trade agreement between India and the European Union, amid rising worries about possible new sanctions impacting nations purchasing Russian oil.
The security assurances for Ukraine, with Germany joining, are a big step forward that have been interpreted as a promise and a responsibility by many. For Kyiv, the importance of this assurance is not limited to politics but encompasses the existential and future hope regarding self-defence against further Russian aggression.
