Wadephul: strengthening ties with India
At his meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar, Foreign Minister Wadephul emphasised the strategic alliance between Germany and India.
Berlin (dpa/d.de)– Germany and India are looking to further deepen their economic and military ties. This was reaffirmed by Foreign Minister Wadephul at yesterday’s meeting with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. “Our relations are more diverse and wide-ranging today than ever before. We aim to strengthen this partnership at every level. This is precisely what we have just discussed in detail – from the economy and trade to skilled labour recruitment and security policy,” said Wadephul. India’s Foreign Minister praised his country’s close ties with Germany, saying it was India’s most important economic partner within the EU.
He said a particular focus would be placed on cooperation in the area of security policy, with the shared goal of promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Wadephul highlighted the Bundeswehr’s Indo-Pacific Deployment, which involves German forces taking part in joint exercises with the Indian Navy and Air Force. This cooperation would continue to be expanded, he said.
Wadephul also condemned the terrorist attack on civilians in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir on 22 April, which claimed 26 lives. At the same time, he welcomed the ceasefire agreed in the recent military confrontations between India and Pakistan. The two countries are both nuclear powers.