Germany wants to reduce India's dependence on Russia through a new memorandum of understanding, signed during Chancellor Merz's visit.

The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany wants to collaborate more closely with India in the field of security, to reduce its dependence on Russia. During his first visit to India, memorandums of understanding were signed that target not only security but also critical minerals, the health sector, and an innovation center in artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of these agreements for building secure and resilient supply chains.

Although India collaborates with Russia in the military field and is a major buyer of Russian energy resources, Germany expresses its concern regarding the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia. Merz also called for the completion of negotiations for a free trade agreement between India and the European Union, highlighting the challenges of global protectionism.