New Delhi: January is set to be a packed month for Indian diplomacy with a number of important incoming visits on the cards. From German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the EU-India Summit, 2026 is set to begin with a serious outreach by European nations as geopolitics continue to shift.
The first major visit announced by the Ministry of External Affairs Monday is the visit of Chancellor Merz to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru on 12 and 13 January. Merz’s official visit is the German leader’s first to Asia since assuming office in May of last year.
Berlin has been pushing for the visit since Merz assumed office to signal its intent to deepen ties with New Delhi. Deepening strategic ties, green investments along with education and mobility, are all expected to figure highly on the agenda. However, Merz is not the only European leader making the trek to India at the start of the year.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski is also expected to visit India this month. The dates have not been finalised yet. The end of the month is set to see the leaders of the European Union (EU), Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Antonio Costa, attend India’s Republic Day as chief guests ahead of the EU-India Summit.
Von der Leyen had also travelled to India in February 2025, early into her second tenure as Commission President to highlight the EU’s prioritisation of its ties with India, especially the completion of a free trade agreement (FTA). Von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to complete the negotiations for the FTA within a year of the Commission President’s visit to India.
New Delhi has become an important partner for European capitals. For Europe, ties with the US remain unpredictable, while its economies continue to compete with China on trade, with Beijing being considered a “systemic rival” of the EU.
The back-to-back visits by European leaders through the month of January is set to continue through February as well with a number of heads of states or governments expected to travel to India for the AI summit being held in the national capital between 15 and 20 February.
President Emmanuel Macron of France is set to co-chair the summit alongside Modi, while there are expectations of a number of European leaders, including the President of Estonia Alar Karis and Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, attending the AI Summit next month.
The Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, is expected to travel to India this month, however, the dates have not yet been finalised, with the middle of January the likely dates of the visit. Araghchi’s visit comes at a time when the situation across West Asia continues to evolve.
It would be Araghchi’s second visit to India following his trip in May last year during Operation Sindoor. The visit also comes as protests continue to occur in Iran over the economic situation. A number of topics are expected to be discussed, including the utilisation of the port of Chabahar. Tehran was recently threatened by US President Donald J. Trump. The American President had said last week that “We are locked and loaded and ready to go” if Tehran continues shooting at protesters.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is also expected to visit India later this month. The Japanese Foreign Minister last met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the margins of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit held by Malaysia last October.
Apart from the incoming visits, Jaishankar is currently travelling to France and Luxembourg, where he held meetings with his European counterparts. Jaishankar will be travelling to the two countries between 4 and 9 January.
The Indian External Affairs Minister will be addressing the 31st edition of the French Ambassadors Conference, a rare address by an Asian leader, apart from holding meetings with his French counterpart, Jean Noel Barrot. Jaishankar also called on the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden, Tuesday.
(Edited by Niyati Kothiyal)
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