New Delhi: The incoming German government will look at boosting its defence cooperation with India, German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann has told ThePrint. His comments come amidst a huge churn in Europe, especially in Germany, which has vowed to increase spending on defence as the Russia-Ukraine war rages on.
“The German government supports and encourages the Indian private sector to reach out. We are very, very open-minded, extremely proactive when it comes to defence cooperation, and that’s not only defence production, but also common exercises like the frigates coming to India. We are looking forward to more exchanges with the armed forces as well,” he said, speaking on the sidelines of the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law ceremony for 2024 Tuesday at the French Embassy.
Asked about the possibility of more Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) being signed in this sector, Ackermann expressed optimism, despite the transitional phase in Germany’s government. He noted that the new government had yet to make clear statements on this issue, but he believed the overall approach towards defence collaboration would be smoother as Germany continues to pursue a proactive stance.
He pointed to the proposed submarine deal with India’s Navy, as part of which the German company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has cleared the technical evaluations to build six advanced conventional submarines for the Indian Navy with stealth technology.
The ambassador made it clear that such initiatives, while led by private businesses, are encouraged and backed by the German government. “It’s a whole package. We see India as a strategic partner, more and more. So there’s a chance for more joint military exercises, clearly in this,” he added.
Ackermann stressed that this is part of a broader strategy where India is increasingly seen as a strategic partner. He noted the potential for more joint military exercises in the future, highlighting the deepening defence relationship between the two countries. “We have come a long way in the past two years. We haven’t seen a complete change of policy,” he said.
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Growing India-Germany defence relations
In a significant departure from its traditionally cautious stance, this renewed emphasis on defence ties comes as both nations look to strengthen their strategic partnership in the face of evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Germany has historically lacked strong defence ties with India, but with increasing concerns over China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, Germany is exploring new avenues for collaboration, including defence technology, joint military drills, and co-production agreements.
Germany had last year lifted restrictions on the sale of small arms, thereby allowing the Indian military and its state police forces to buy them off the shelf. Germany’s erstwhile Christian Democratic Union government, led by Angela Merkel, prevented the sale of small arms to police forces in states they perceived had a ‘bad human rights record’.
Germany has also eased its export licensing rules.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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