By N. C. Bipindra

Gandhinagar (Gujarat): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on January 12, 2026, reaffirmed a sweeping defence and security collaboration that stretches from joint military training to cutting-edge technology co-development, positioning both nations as key security partners in the Indo-Pacific era, signally a landmark boost to India-Germany strategic partnership.

At the top of the agenda was deepening military-to-military cooperation, with commitments to institutionalised service staff talks, elevated defence dialogues, reciprocal naval port calls and joint exercises, underpinned by a newly launched Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue.

“This growing cooperation in defence and security is a symbol of our mutual trust and shared vision,” Modi said, expressing gratitude to Chancellor Merz for simplifying defence trade procedures and announcing a roadmap for future co-development and co-production of defence equipment.

Germany Sees India as ‘Desired Partner’ for Security

Chancellor Merz, on his first official visit to Asia since assuming office, underscored the strategic importance of stronger ties with India at a joint press conference he held with Modi in Gandhinagar.

“India is a desired partner, a partner of choice for Germany,” Merz said, emphasising shared democratic values and the need to tackle global security challenges together.

Merz warned of a “renaissance of protectionism” threatening global supply chains, asserting that closer defence collaboration can help reduce dependencies on single sources and make both economies more resilient.

Operational Links & Strategic Projects on the Horizon

Both leaders heralded increased defence industrial cooperation, such as the Indian Navy submarine programmes under Project 75(I) pursued as partners by India’s Mazagon Docks and Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), joint helicopter systems, counter-UAS technologies, and a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap designed to encourage joint technology partnerships, co-development, and co-production of platforms.

Modi also welcomed Germany’s participation in India-led naval exercises such as MILAN, IONS Conclave of Chiefs, and Air Combat Exercise TARANG SHAKTI, to be held in Visakhapatnam in February 2026, along with the deployment of a Liaison Officer to the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), a strategic nod to enhancing maritime security cooperation.

Pahalgam Terrorism as a Global Threat

India and Germany jointly denounced terrorism. The April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attacks in Kashmir and the car bomb explosions in Delhi were strongly condemned. Modi and Merz agreed to forcefully push for global counter-terror cooperation in line with international law, committing to their partnership on global threats.

“We are unanimous that terrorism is a serious threat to all of humanity,” Modi declared, standing alongside Merz, as both vowed to work collaboratively against terrorist networks.

Germany Seeks India as Non-Western Partner

Berlin is seeking more robust non-Western partnerships as geopolitical tensions grow, while New Delhi accelerates efforts to diversify its global military alliances, both reinforcing bilateral defence and security ties.

Germany and India are also in advanced discussions over a multi-billion-dollar submarine industrial partnership that could significantly bolster India’s naval modernisation, a project likely to gain momentum from Merz’s visit.

India is targeting contract signing for the USD 8-billion six-submarine deal by March 31, 2026, which is the end of India’s fiscal year, according to an exclusive report by Defence Capital.

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