Germany Strengthens Bilateral Ties With India, Appoints Its First Liaison Officer To IFC-IOR

New Delhi: Germany has strengthened its bilateral ties with India as it posted its first liaison officer at India's International Fusion Centre- Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). Commander (Cdr) Oliver Vanek joined IFC-IOR on Thursday as the first ILO from Germany, in the presence of Col Klaus Willi Merkel, Defence Attache of Germany to India.The German Embassy in New Delhi said, 'Germany's induction adds the perspective of a key European maritime partner and strengthens IFC-IOR’s collaborative framework for information sharing, MDA (Maritime Domain Awareness) and maritime security cooperation in the IOR.Germany on Thursday said, "Cdr Oliver Vanek joined IFCIOR today as its 17th International Liaison Officer and the first ILO from Germany, in the presence of Col Klaus Willi Merkel, Defence Attache of Germany to India."The

decision was firmed up in January this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s met in India during Chancellor Merz’s first official trip to India since assuming office.

'This milestone further reinforces India-Germany maritime engagement and shared commitment towards a safe, secure and stable IOR, said Germany.

About The IFC-IOR:

The IFC-IOR was established in December 2018 with an aim to enhance safety and security in the IOR. Since it was established, the Centre has hosted International Liaison Officers from 16 countries with Indonesia being the last one, as first reported by Times Now.

Notably, the first International Liaison Officer ILO representing Indonesia was inducted at IFC-IOR on 1 July. Lt Cdr Felix Dimas Satirawan joins the Centre as the first Indonesian ILO, marking another important milestone in IFC-IOR’s expanding international liaison framework. The induction, as brought out by IFC- IOR, further strengthens maritime cooperation, information sharing and operational understanding between India and Indonesia.

Germany-India Ties:

The two countries have been exploring ways and means to strengthen their bilateral ties, which have seen an incremental upswing in recent years. The German Air and Space Force's (Luftwaffe) Eurofighter Typhoons participated in the Indian Air Force’s first-ever multinational exercise, Tarang Shakti, in August 2024. The Indian Navy operates four Shishumar-class submarines inducted in the late 1980s. The first two boats were constructed in Germany, and the rest were manufactured by Mazagon Dockyard Limited, Mumbai, as part of the technology transfer agreement.