India to host German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in third week of January

Key facts

• India will host German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his first visit to the country after assuming office.
• Merz is expected to visit India in the third week of Jan for a summit with PM Narendra Modi.
• This engagement follows President Putin's visit and precedes the India-EU summit scheduled for Jan 27.
• Discussions will focus on trade, technology, and sustainable development, building on existing partnerships.
• Germany's support for Ukraine and shared concerns over the Indo-Pacific will also be key topics.
• The leaders had earlier met on the margins of the G7 summit in Canada where they agreed to diversify the strategic partnership.
• Germany is also a key partner for India in maintaining a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.