German Chancellor Merz to visit India next week, hold talks with PM Modi

January 9, 2026

New Delhi  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit India on a two-day official visit starting January 12 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Merz will meet Prime Minister Modi in Ahmedabad, and both leaders will also participate in the International Kite Festival on the Sabarmati Riverfront.

Talks in Ahmedabad, Bilateral Meetings in Gandhinagar

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), this will be followed by bilateral events at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. This will be Chancellor Merz’s first official visit to India.

Review of 25 Years of India-Germany Strategic Partnership

The PMO stated, “The two leaders will review the progress made in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership over the past 25 years. Their discussions will focus on further strengthening cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, technology, education, skill development, and mobility. They will also focus on advancing cooperation in key areas such as defense and security, science, innovation, and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people contacts.”

Views on Regional and Global Issues, Interaction with Industry

The two leaders will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance and interact with business and industry leaders from India and Germany.

Discussions on Defense and Security Cooperation Ahead of the Visit

Ahead of Chancellor Merz’s visit, German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann met with Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Thursday. Bilateral security and defense-related issues were discussed, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of defense equipment.
The Ministry of Defence’s Directorate of Public Relations posted on X, stating, “German Ambassador Dr. Philipp Ackermann met with Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh. He conveyed New Year greetings from the German side, and the two discussed various aspects of bilateral security and defence, including co-development and co-production.”

Recent Meetings: Talks held at G20 and G7

Prime Minister Modi met Chancellor Merz during the G20 Summit in South Africa last November. Prime Minister Modi described India-Germany relations as strong and expanding in key areas such as trade, technology, and innovation.
The Prime Minister wrote on X, “It was a pleasure to meet German Chancellor Mr. Friedrich Merz. India-Germany relations are strong in areas such as trade, technology, innovation, etc.”

First meeting between leaders since assuming office

Prime Minister Modi and Friedrich Merz also met during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, in June. This was the first meeting between the two leaders since Merz assumed office in May 2025.

Germany, India’s Major Trading Partner in the EU

Germany is one of India’s largest trading partners in the EU and a major source of investment, engineering expertise, and advanced technology.