Prime Minister Narendra Modi met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday and exchanged views on strategic issues, and regional and global developments. While the Ukraine situation figured prominently during the bilateral talks, PM Modi and Scholz also discussed issues related to the Indo-Pacific in the context of Chinese aggression. “Chancellor Scholz said that India and Germany are on the same page on issues related to the Indo-Pacific,” sources told The Daily Guardian.
“Like New Delhi, Berlin believes that for common prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific region there is a need for a common rules-based order that respects sovereignty, territorial integrity and equality of all nations,” sources privy to developments in Germany said. “Germany is always in favour of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the sources added. The issue related to the Indo-Pacific came up amid growing global concerns over China’s military muscle-flexing in the region.
Sources said that PM Modi shared his perspectives on the Ukraine conflict, reminding the German Chancellor of how India has consistently been expressing concern over the humanitarian crisis resulting from the violence there. “India had condemned the Bucha genocide outright and sought an independent probe,” the German Chancellor was told, according to sources. Scholz was also told that “India like Germany wants immediate cessation of hostilities and resolution of the problems between Ukraine and Russia through dialogue and diplomacy”, sources said. The German leader was apprised of how PM Modi reached out to both the Ukrainian and Russian Presidents to resolve the problem through direct talks. The German leader put his perspectives on the Russian invasion highlighting concerns over the killings. Sources said the German Chancellor appreciated India addressing the humanitarian concerns in Ukraine. He was also appreciative of India’s condemnation of the “Bucha brutal killing”. A host of other issues aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between India and Germany were also discussed threadbare in the meeting, sources said. The two leaders look forward to expanding India-Germany cooperation.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock and signed an agreement on a direct encrypted connection between the two foreign offices. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said that both the leaders discussed the Ukraine conflict and Indo-Pacific. “Good conversation with FM @ABaerbock. Reviewed our bilateral cooperation. Discussed the Ukraine conflict & Indo-Pacific. Signed agreement on direct encrypted connection between the two Foreign Offices. Will be reporting at the Inter-Governmental Consultations Plenary,” Jaishankar tweeted.
Sources said Jaishankar held discussions on the Indo-Pacific in great detail with the Chinese factor in the background. The German foreign minister shared concerns that the EAM raised during the meeting, said a source.
In an interview with a newspaper before meeting PM Modi, the German Chancellor had said that the intergovernmental consultations were, first and foremost, about Germany-India relations. “Of course, we will also talk about international relations and the overall security environment. Our Indo-Pacific guidelines lay down our general approach, which is above all multilateral and inclusive.”
Earlier, the Prime Minister received a guard of honour at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin on Monday in the presence of the German Chancellor. PM Modi, who arrived in Germany on the first leg of his three-day Europe visit, got a rousing welcome from the Indian diaspora in Berlin. The Prime Minister greeted members of the Indian community, who were awaiting his arrival at Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin. Many children along with their parents were present at the hotel, waving at the Prime Minister’s arrival.
The people chanted “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” on seeing the Prime Minister. PM Modi is also scheduled to visit Denmark on Tuesday to hold talks with the leaders from Nordic countries, along with other high-level interactions. The visit will conclude with a stopover in Paris on Wednesday where the Prime Minister will meet the newly re-elected French President Emmanuel Macron.
GREEN DEAL
Later on Monday India and Germany agreed to develop a hydrogen roadmap in their agreement for green and sustainable development, as per the joint statement after the 6th Inter-Governmental Consultations between the two countries.
“Develop an Indo-German Green Hydrogen Roadmap based on the inputs by the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force supported by the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF),” the joint statement stated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed a joint press conference in Berlin. In the statement both the countries agreed to establish an Indo-German renewable energy partnership, focusing on innovative solar energy and other renewables, including the associated challenges for electricity grids, storage and market design to facilitate a just energy transition.