PM Modi, German Scholz discuss India's role in ending Russia-Ukraine conflict | Latest news India

NEW DELHI: India and Germany on Friday unveiled agreements to step up cooperation in defense and security, emerging technologies, and migration and mobility, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the bilateral strategic partnership crucial to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The two leaders jointly chaired the biennial Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC), a framework in which ministers from both sides hold discussions in their respective areas to prepare a roadmap for collaboration over the next two years. Efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts also figured in the negotiations, officials said.

In his IGC opening speech, Modi said the India-Germany partnership has emerged as a strong anchor at a time when the world is grappling with conflict and uncertainty, and there are serious concerns about the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the country. Indo-Pacific.

Addressing a joint media interaction after the IGC meeting, Modi said conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia were a concern for both countries, and India was ready to make whatever contribution it could to the restoration of peace.

“We both agree to ensure freedom of navigation and respect for the rule of law in accordance with international laws in the Indo-Pacific region,” Modi said, speaking in Hindi.

Scholz noted that the rules-based international order has come under massive pressure due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, and said: Especially in times like these, it is of the highest importance of India being an anchor of stability in South Asia.

He highlighted the deployment of two German warships in the Indo-Pacific and the joint exercise they conducted with the Indian Navy and said this underlines that both sides are upholding the rules-based international order and freedom of maritime commerce.

In addition to a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and an agreement on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information, the two sides unveiled a roadmap on partnership in innovation and technology, a declaration of The joint intention for the research and development of advanced materials and the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Roadmap.

They also finalized a joint statement of intent on employment and labor, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in skills development and vocational training, as well as a joint statement of intent on partnership for green urban mobility.

As part of efforts to deepen defense cooperation, Germany announced that its armed forces will position a liaison officer at the Indian Navy's Information Fusion Center in Gurugram, which tracks shipping and activities illegal across the Indian Ocean. Germany will also support India's efforts to gain observer status in the Eurodrone program, aimed at developing an advanced drone for France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Modi noted that the mutual legal assistance treaty will strengthen joint efforts to combat terrorism and separatist elements, while the agreement on the exchange of classified information constitutes a new step in the growing cooperation in defense and security, which reflects our deep mutual trust.

He welcomed the new German “Focus on India” strategy, describing it as a project to modernize the bilateral partnership and an India-specific skilled labor strategy. The Innovation and Technology Roadmap for critical and emerging technologies and skills development will strengthen cooperation in the areas of artificial intelligence and semiconductors and help build supply chains and reliable and resilient values, he said.

Scholz addressed the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia both during the joint media interaction and in an earlier speech at the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024), and highlighted the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the rules-based international order.

If Russia were to succeed in its illegal and brutal war against Ukraine, it would have repercussions far beyond Europe's borders. Such an outcome would endanger global security and prosperity as a whole, he told the business meeting.

Let us do everything in our power to provide political solutions to these conflicts. Solutions based on international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, he added.

During the joint interaction with the media, Scholz highlighted India's support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and expressed satisfaction with your willingness to utilize the reliable relations you have developed with all parties to contribute to a political solution to the conflict.

Foreign Minister Vikram Misri told a press briefing that Modi and Scholz discussed conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia in great detail. Modi shared his thoughts on recent interactions with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine and provided details of steps taken by India to continue conversations with all parties to the conflict and some of the ideas different actors spoke, he said.

We are not neutral in this conflict, we are on the side of peace. We are ready to support any initiative for peace, leveraging our ability to engage with all parties to this conflict, Misri said.

Both sides also agreed on the need to avoid a further escalation of violence in West Asia, as well as a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a political process leading to a solution two states.