German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to embark on his inaugural official visit to India since taking office, marking a significant moment in bilateral relations. The two-day trip, scheduled for January 12-13, 2026, will see the Chancellor land in Ahmedabad before proceeding to Bengaluru.
High-Level Diplomacy in Ahmedabad
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will personally receive Chancellor Merz in Ahmedabad on January 12. This gesture underscores the importance India places on its ties with Germany. The leaders are expected to conduct comprehensive talks aimed at reviewing and advancing the multifaceted India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.
Discussions will cover a broad spectrum of collaborative areas. Key focus points include boosting cooperation in trade and investment, advanced technology, education, and skill development. The agenda also prioritises enhancing collaboration in critical domains such as defence and security, scientific innovation, green sustainable development, and fostering stronger people-to-people connections.
Strengthening a Key European Partnership
Chancellor Merz's visit is strategically timed, occurring just a fortnight before top European Union leaders, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, are scheduled to visit India for Republic Day celebrations. This sequence of high-level European engagements in early 2026 highlights the intensifying political dialogue between India and Europe.
Germany, given its pivotal role within the EU and the depth of its bilateral relationship with India, is regarded as one of New Delhi's most crucial partners in Europe. The MEA stated that the visit will build on the momentum from regular high-level interactions and provide an opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision for a forward-looking partnership benefiting both nations and the global community.
Beyond economic ties, India and Germany share a commitment to democratic values, a rules-based international order, and multilateralism. Both nations have expressed a desire to deepen security and defence cooperation to jointly tackle global security challenges.
Background and Previous Engagement
Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz first met on June 17, 2025, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada. That meeting, held within a month of Merz assuming office, took place in the context of Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack. During their discussions, both leaders agreed that terrorism poses a major threat to global peace and stability. PM Modi had thanked Chancellor Merz for Germany's strong solidarity and support for India's actions in combating terrorism.
The foundation of this relationship is the Strategic Partnership established in May 2000, which was further institutionalised with the start of Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) at the Head of Government level in 2011. As two of the world's top five economies, Germany and India maintain a robust economic and developmental partnership.
During the visit, apart from official talks, Modi and Merz will also engage with leaders from business and industry and exchange views on pressing regional and global issues, setting the course for the next phase of this vital partnership.
