German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to make first official visit to India on January 12–13

German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz will pay his first official visit to India on January 12–13, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the visit, Chancellor Merz will travel to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. Prime Minister Modi will receive him in Ahmedabad on January 12, where the two leaders will review progress across the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which marked 25 years last year.

Discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, as well as expanding collaboration in defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties.

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Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz will also interact with business and industry leaders and exchange views on key regional and global issues. The visit builds on sustained high-level political engagement between the two countries and is expected to further reinforce their shared vision of a forward-looking partnership for mutual benefit and global good.

The German Chancellor's visit to India is taking place days before top leaders of the European Union arrive in Delhi to finalise the much-awaited India-EU free trade agreement. India will host French President Emmanuel Macron next month. Macron is visiting India to participate in the AI Summit.

The German chancellor is visiting India amid a fractious geopolitical environment, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the US capturing Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro.

It is expected that the Russia-Ukraine conflict may figure prominently in Modi-Merz talks. The two leaders may also review progress in bilateral cooperation in the area of clean energy.

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