Baerbock visit: Courts for India | tagesschau.de

Foreign Minister Baerbock wants to deepen the partnership with the country on her trip to India. Also because the economic dependency on Beijing is to be reduced. Opinions differ not only on the subject of Russia.

Annalena Baerbock no longer makes trips where Russia and its war of aggression against Ukraine play no important role. The two-day visit to India is no exception. But the visit to what will soon be the most populous country on earth is about much more: Germany is currently trying to strategically reposition itself vis-à-vis China and reduce its economic dependency on Beijing.

So it makes sense to intensify the strategic partnership with India. India has long been an economic giant itself and regards China as a rival.

For this reason alone, observers believe it is high time that the German Foreign Minister was the first cabinet member to make her inaugural visit to New Delhi. The focus of their talks would be “the most urgent tasks of our time,” Baerbock said before she left, citing “containment of the climate crisis and the preservation of our rules-based international order.” At the same time, the minister praised the country, which has just taken over the presidency of the G20 states, as a “solid democracy” and a “natural partner” of Germany.

emerging economic power

As far as the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine is concerned, however, the views in New Delhi and Berlin differ: India has always abstained from UN votes condemning the invasion and does not support the Western sanctions.

On the contrary, the emerging economic power is getting more cheap oil from Russia than before, as well as more armaments. There are many reasons besides the gigantic Indian energy requirements: For New Delhi, the war in Europe seems to be far away. One has always tried not to be drawn into a camp. The historically good channels to Moscow are also likely to play a role.

Mobility agreement to be signed

At the same time, since the beginning of the war, great efforts have been made in Berlin not to let the countries of the so-called southern hemisphere drift too far into Russia’s sphere of influence. “Ultimately, we also have India to thank for the clearer positioning of the G20 against the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine,” said Baerbock, referring to the summit in Bali a few weeks ago.

The topic of climate also plays an important role during the visit of the Green Party politician, as the aim is to intensify cooperation with India on renewable energies. Baerbock plans to visit relevant projects in rural areas around the capital, New Delhi. She also announced that she would sign a mobility agreement during her visit that would make it easier for people “to study, research and work in the other country”.

Short upset

The German Foreign Minister briefly upset the Indian government with comments on the Kashmir issue, to which both India and Pakistan are claiming. At a press conference in Berlin, she campaigned for a peaceful solution to the conflict “with the help of the United Nations” and declared that Germany also had a role to play.

New Delhi, which regards the Kashmir issue as its own affair, reacted with outrage. After a clarification by the German ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, and after a Baerbock phone call with her counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, however, the matter seems settled.