German minister aims to deepen 'strategic partnership' with India

Germany is seeking increased military cooperation with India, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said during a visit to the subcontinent on Tuesday, reported dpa.

"It is about deepening this strategic partnership," the minister told German broadcaster ARD in New Delhi.

He then met with representatives of the German arms industry, which wants to expand its engagement with India.

Pistorius made it clear that he did not have "contracts in his luggage," but was in the country to support this. He wanted to meet government representatives on Tuesday.

The minister referred to the cooperation between India and Germany that has existed since the 1980s. "The point is that we understand each other as strategic partners, have always understood each other and will have to understand each other even more," he said.

Currently at issue is a billion-dollar deal to sell German submarines to India. India is "one of the most important partners of all in the region," Pistorius said.

He made it clear that this applies regardless of the fact that India has not taken a clear political position against the Russian war in Ukraine. Germany would be well advised not to expect commitments from everyone, Pistorius said. India is also very dependent on supplies from the Russian arms industry.

India, with its population of around 1.4 billion, has one of the largest armies in the world and is one of the world's largest importers of military hardware.