German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet the crowd in Ahmedabad, January 12, 2026. (Photo by Shammi MEHRA / AFP)
New Delhi: Germany and India on Monday signed a ‘Declaration of Intent’ aimed at strengthening security cooperation between the two countries, including closer collaboration in their defense industries.
At a press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after signing the declaration in Ahmedabad, Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for speeding up the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and India.
He predicted that the agreement would be signed by the end of January during the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to India.
He added that both countries are working to create legal and organized pathways for Indian talent to migrate through training and dual study programs, as well as partnerships between universities and businesses.
For its part, the German government said in a statement that Merz, during his current visit to India, had affirmed Berlin’s desire for closer cooperation with New Delhi on security issues.
The statement also highlighted that Germany is working to prevent Indian companies from circumventing restrictive measures imposed on Russia.
The government added that the two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in the areas of vital minerals and rare earths, artificial intelligence and digitalization, as well as human capital development. In addition, they signed memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the areas of health and innovation.
It is worth noting that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is currently visiting India.
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