Gandhinagar, Jan 12 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met on Monday to reaffirm their dedication to enhancing defence and security collaboration, and to deepening military ties through joint exercises, training initiatives, and senior official exchanges. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the ongoing reciprocal port calls by naval vessels from both nations.

They applauded the initiation of a new Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue, as noted in the joint statement released after their discussions in Ahmedabad.

After their meeting, PM Modi shared on X: "It was a privilege to host Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad. His visit has added fresh momentum to India–Germany relations, coinciding with 25 years of our Strategic Partnership and 75 years of diplomatic ties. India is proud that he selected our country as his inaugural stop in Asia, signifying his personal commitment to enhancing India-Germany relations."

"We agreed on elevating our partnership to a higher qualitative level, with increased collaboration in defence, space, and other emerging technologies. Our dialogue also touched on joint climate action, resilient supply chains, workforce development, education, sports, and enhancing cultural and interpersonal connections," he continued.

PM Modi welcomed Germany's intention to participate in Naval Exercise MILAN, the 9th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs scheduled for February 2026, and the Air Combat Exercise 'Tarang Shakti' in September 2026. He also acknowledged Germany's decision to assign a Liaison Officer to the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), as detailed in the joint statement.

The leaders expressed satisfaction over the ongoing partnership between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) concerning the Eurodrone MALE UAV programme, aimed at facilitating advanced military technology collaboration and strengthening strategic defence ties with Europe.

According to the joint statement, "The Leaders welcomed the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent to create a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap to foster long-term industry collaboration, including technology partnerships, co-development, and co-production of defence platforms and equipment. India appreciates Germany's efforts to expedite export clearances for defence materials."

"The Leaders recognized the growing interaction between Indian and German defence companies through Defence Roundtables and Seminars in Berlin and New Delhi, and welcomed ongoing exchanges in this field. Both leaders praised the ongoing collaboration in submarines, obstacle avoidance systems for helicopters, and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), anticipating enhanced industrial cooperation based on shared objectives and complementary strengths — India's skilled workforce and competitive costs alongside Germany's advanced technologies and investments," it added.

PM Modi and Merz welcomed advancements towards finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Peacekeeping training between Indian and German institutions, a Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement for the armed forces, and knowledge sharing in new Defence Technologies between DRDO and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw).

The two leaders condemned terrorism and extremism in all forms and expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation against terrorist entities, including those identified by the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee.

The joint statement noted: "The two leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism. They called for coordinated international efforts to combat terrorism comprehensively and sustainably, adhering to the UN Charter and international law, and condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, as well as the incident in Delhi on November 10, 2025."

"They pledged to enhance cooperation against terrorists and terrorist entities, including those listed in the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee. Both sides urged all nations to work towards dismantling terrorist havens and networks while disrupting terrorist financing in accordance with international law. The Leaders welcomed the ratification of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and acknowledged the progress made by the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism," it added.

PM Modi and Chancellor Merz highlighted the importance of strong people-to-people connections as a "vital pillar of the Strategic Partnership" and welcomed the increasing exchange of students, researchers, skilled professionals, artists, and tourists. Both leaders expressed commitment to further enhancing legal mobility and expanding cooperation on the repatriation of individuals required to leave the country while addressing irregular migration, human trafficking, and document and visa fraud by fully implementing the provisions of the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA).