New Delhi [India], September 4 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday underlined the need for India and Germany to accelerate negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), stressing that both nations share a strong “mutual interest” in reaching a decisive conclusion.
Speaking at a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in New Delhi, Jaishankar said lowering tariffs and expanding cooperation require “greater urgency.”
“Our conversations and our negotiations predate anything that has happened this year. It is in our mutual interest that we lower tariffs and find other ways of expanding our business and economic cooperation. Obviously, in today’s climate, those efforts acquire a greater urgency. I share the Minister’s optimism that the FTA negotiations should move forward fairly soon and come to a decisive conclusion in the coming days,” Jaishankar stated.
Wadephul is in India on a two-day official visit to bolster bilateral and economic ties. Both ministers held bilateral talks earlier in the day. The discussions come as India faces steep tariffs from the United States over its purchase of Russian crude oil.
Jaishankar emphasized that a deeper India-Germany partnership would not only boost bilateral trade but also contribute to stabilising the global economy.
“It will be one of the elements of ballast which today the world economy really needs,” he said.
Echoing his counterpart, Wadephul described India as central to Germany’s Asia policy.
“India equals Asia for us, and Germany and the European Union, in a way, are equivalent for India. India plays a very important part, and though we both have our own political positions and priorities, when it comes to democratic principles and regulatory steps, both our countries and both our markets are very diligent and adherent to certain details,” he noted.
Both ministers agreed that progress on FTA talks would not only strengthen bilateral relations but also advance global economic stability.
Highlighting Germany’s significance, Jaishankar said, “As the largest country in the European Union, Germany plays a central role in India’s global calculations. This relationship is growing in substance, and at a time of uncertainty, it has greater value.”
He further described India-Germany ties as steady and predictable.
“It is a relationship where what we promise to each other, and the policies we have, remain constant and predictable. Predictability today has a huge premium in global politics,” Jaishankar remarked.
Welcoming Wadephul, who is visiting India for the first time in his current role, Jaishankar expressed confidence in his counterpart’s commitment.
“I had the honour of being his guest this May, and since then we have been regularly in touch. I am very confident that his enthusiasm will now be fully applied in this new role,” he said.
During their meeting, both ministers also exchanged views on regional, global, and multilateral issues, including defence and security cooperation. Jaishankar appreciated Germany’s consistent support for India’s fight against terrorism.
“We greatly value the understanding that Germany has shown with regard to India’s fight against terrorism,” he said, noting Wadephul’s explicit support for India’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.
He also recalled the warm reception extended to an Indian parliamentary delegation visiting Germany in June, shortly after Operation Sindoor. (ANI)
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