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Germany looks to strengthen defence, military ties with India

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday he wished to deepen defence ties with New Delhi and bring the two countries' militaries closer, in remarks following a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Germany, which has not traditionally had close defence ties with India, is now pitching to join the latter's effort to wean its arms base from years of dependence on Russia, at a time when the West looks for to counter China's growing influence.

Our general message is clear, we need more co-operation, not less, Scholz said.

At our inter-governmental consultations with India, we likewise wish to deepen co-operation in defence and consent to bring our armed forces together.

Scholz, accompanied by most of his cabinet, is leading a. top-level delegation to New Delhi, wagering that greater gain access to. to the vast Indian market can reduce Germany's reliance on. China.

German Thyssenkrupp is one of two bidders that. have actually partnered with Indian companies to construct 6 traditional. submarines in India, in a deal estimated to be worth $5 billion.

The Indian Navy is expected to select in between the German. company or Spain's Navantia quickly.

Scholz repeated his economy minister's talk about pushing. for speedy development on talks for a free-trade pact between India. and the European Union.

Previously, Trade Minister Piyush Goyal alerted that India would. be unable to strike such a deal if the bloc insisted on getting. access to the Asian giant's dairy market.

The 2 sides initially aimed to wrap up talks on the pact. by the end of 2023, however progress has been sluggish, with India. blaming the EU for what it called illogical standards as one. reason.

A trade offer could be concluded swiftly if level of sensitivities. were respected on both sides, Goyal told the Asia-Pacific. conference of German organization in the Indian capital, attended by. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck.

On Thursday, Habeck had stated farming was the many. problematic area in the deal talks, suggesting it would be. much better if the 2 sides focused first on the commercial sector.

(source: Reuters)