So he could encourage Modi to rethink

During the visit to New Delhi, the differences between Germany and India become apparent. Can an armaments cooperation make Modi rethink?

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has called on the Indian government to take a clear stance on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The violation of the principle of not using force to move borders must be clearly stated, Scholz said in New Delhi on Saturday. For his part, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that conflicts should be resolved through diplomacy. With a view to the intended intensified cooperation with Germany, he emphasized the area of ​​defence.

The war was also “above all a major catastrophe” because Russia had violated the international principle “that one does not use force to move borders,” said Scholz after a meeting with Modi in the Indian capital. “And in this respect it is very important that we have repeatedly found very clear statements on this subject in the United Nations.”

Germany and India now want to expand their cooperation in the armaments sector. The “quality of German technology” is also highly recognized by the Indian partners in this area, said Scholz. They want to deepen the cooperation “in very concrete working relationships and stay tuned there”.

Modi emphasized that he sees cooperation with Germany in the security and defense sector as an important part of the strategic partnership. There is still untapped potential here. India’s armed forces are currently largely equipped with Russian weapons. “It cannot be in our interest for things to stay that way,” sources in German government circles say.

According to a report by the Bloomberg news agency, the German ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, said before the visit that ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems was one of two candidates to build six submarines for the Indian Navy. The order would therefore be worth around five billion dollars (around 4.7 billion euros). Scholz said in New Delhi that concrete projects had also been discussed, but did not give any details.

India has not yet condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. On Thursday, it again abstained from a vote at the UN General Assembly on a resolution calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops. 141 of the 193 UN member states voted in favor of the text.

Since the start of the Ukraine conflict, India’s goal has been “to resolve it through dialogue and diplomacy,” Modi said in a joint statement to the press. “India stands ready to contribute to any peace talks.” India is also dependent on Russia in the energy sector.

With the presidency of the G20 of large industrialized and emerging countries, India has taken on a “very responsible role in difficult times” this year, said Scholz. It must be ensured that the Russian war of aggression in Asia, Africa or South America “does not lead to price increases, to energy shortages, to food shortages.”

Scholz arrived in India on Saturday with an eleven-strong business delegation for a two-day visit. Among them are representatives of the companies Siemens, ThyssenKrupp, SAP and Deutsche Post.

In New Delhi, the Chancellor pointed out that 1,800 German companies were already active in India. He emphasized the potential of cooperation in the field of renewable energies and the exchange of specialists. Scholz promised to work for a speedy conclusion of the planned free trade agreement with the EU.