Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:05am on 12 Jan 2026,Monday India Global
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad today for his first bilateral visit since assuming office last May. The leaders will finalize agreements on semiconductors, critical minerals, defense manufacturing, and skill development, including a Hyderabad skills center. Merz brings a 25-member CEO delegation featuring submarine manufacturers, signaling strong defense cooperation. Discussions will cover the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, Ukraine war, Trump's disruptive policies, and China's challenge. Over 2,000 German companies operate in India, with more joining Make in India initiatives. The visit precedes EU leaders attending Republic Day celebrations and French President Macron's February arrival, marking extensive India-Europe engagement promoting a multipolar world order.
