It’s about trade, arms and Russia

Chancellor at Modi

Merz in India: It’s about trade, armaments and Russia

India first: Unlike his predecessors, Merz visits the world’s most populous country, ahead of China and Japan. This has to do with the new world disorder.

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in India for a two-day inaugural visit. The CDU leader landed shortly before 2 a.m. local time in Ahmedabad in the home region of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will officially welcome him in the morning at a memorial to the national hero Mahatma Gandhi.

The streets of the city with its eight million inhabitants are lined with large-format signs with pictures of Merz and Modi as a welcome greeting to the Chancellor. The two will also visit the traditional kite festival together today, which marks the transition from winter to summer and during which thousands of paper kites fly into the air. Only then will the political discussions begin.

It is the third meeting between the two, who have already met at two international summits. The fact that Modi is receiving the Chancellor in his home country is seen as a sign of special appreciation. But Merz is not the first high-ranking guest there. Since taking office in 2014, Modi has hosted US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the city that is so special to him.

The talks between Merz and Modi will focus on expanding economic relations and arms cooperation. Perhaps the most difficult issue will be Russia.

India maintains close relations with both Western partners and Russia. It was only in December that Russian President Vladimir Putin was in New Delhi and was greeted by Modi at the airport with a warm hug. The country gets a large part of its oil from Russia, which in turn uses the revenue to fund the war of aggression against Ukraine.

Unlike most other countries in the UN General Assembly, India did not condemn the Russian invasion. On the other hand, Modi could use his connection to Putin to participate in diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war. Merz should talk to Modi about all of this.