On September 3, 2025, a high-stakes diplomatic meeting unfolded in New Delhi as India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar welcomed his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, for a two-day visit. The agenda was packed, but one priority stood out: India’s urgent push to deepen ties with the European Union (EU) and accelerate negotiations for a long-delayed free trade agreement (FTA). Both leaders emerged from their talks with a clear message—closer economic and strategic cooperation between India and Germany, as well as with the broader EU, is more crucial than ever in a world marked by economic turbulence and shifting political sands.
Jaishankar didn’t mince words as he addressed the press alongside Wadephul. “We count on your support to deepen our relationship with the European Union and expedite the FTA negotiation,” he told the German minister, underscoring the weight India places on Berlin’s influence within the EU. According to Reuters, Jaishankar emphasized that a “decisive conclusion” to the agreement in the coming days would help stabilize the global economy—a sentiment echoed by Wadephul, who said the deal could be wrapped up in the coming months.
Trade talks between India and the EU, which resumed in 2021 after an eight-year hiatus, have been anything but smooth sailing. The EU has pushed for India to slash import tariffs on cars and dairy products while insisting on stricter climate and labor standards for Indian goods. India, for its part, is wary of exposing local farmers to foreign competition, resists rigid green regulations, and wants to retain control over legal disputes arising from the agreement. The stakes are high: the EU views this potential FTA as the largest deal of its kind in the world, and both sides see it as a vital tool for economic resilience in uncertain times.
Wadephul, for his part, struck a pragmatic note. “If others put up trade barriers, then we should respond by lowering them,” he remarked, signaling Germany’s willingness to push for fewer impediments between the two economies. This approach seemed especially timely given recent developments with the United States. Just days before Wadephul’s visit, the U.S. doubled tariffs on Indian goods, slapping an additional 25% levy on top of an earlier 25% tariff announced in July. The American move was widely seen as retaliation for India’s purchases of Russian oil—a sore spot for Washington, which considers such transactions as helping to finance Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
India has responded with sharp criticism, accusing both the U.S. and EU of hypocrisy. According to The Times of India, Indian officials argue that while they’re being singled out for buying Russian oil, both the U.S. and EU continue to trade extensively with Moscow despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The issue of Russian energy dominated much of the India-Germany dialogue as well. Wadephul clarified the EU’s position, stating, “The EU is not against countries buying Russian energy to meet their own needs but opposes refined Russian oil reaching its shores in a roundabout way.” He also noted that while the EU’s main demand is for the weapons in Ukraine to go silent, European countries such as Germany and France are now advocating for secondary sanctions targeting third-party entities that they believe are helping to bankroll Russia’s war by facilitating its exports.
Wadephul also took a moment to praise Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Modi called for an early end to the conflict. “EU’s only demand is that weapons go silent,” Wadephul said, expressing appreciation for India’s diplomatic efforts. At the same time, he urged India to use its influence with Russia to help bring peace to Europe, highlighting the complex balancing act India faces as it navigates its relationships with both the West and Moscow.
The economic agenda was never far from the surface. Both ministers called for a significant increase in bilateral trade, especially in the defense and security sectors. Germany, already India’s largest trading partner in Europe, has set its sights on doubling its current €50 billion trade volume with India. Jaishankar assured Wadephul that India would “pay special attention to any concerns German companies might have about operating in India,” signaling a willingness to address regulatory and operational barriers. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also confirmed that trade officials were actively holding talks in Brussels, adding momentum to the negotiations.
But the conversation didn’t end with economics. The two leaders also tackled pressing geopolitical issues, notably the situation in the Indo-Pacific. Wadephul stressed that India and Germany are united by their commitment to preserving the rules-based international order—a veiled reference to concerns over China’s increasingly assertive behavior in the region. “More generally, we aim to further expand our cooperation in the areas of defense, security and armaments,” Wadephul said, adding that Germany agrees with India and others on the need to defend the rules-based order from China.
Jaishankar echoed these sentiments, noting that “predictability has a huge premium today in global politics and ongoing changes in the world are influencing India’s policy and the way it approaches other countries.” He argued that a multipolar world, where countries retain strategic autonomy, can best respond to today’s twin challenges of economic volatility and political uncertainty through more intensive cooperation among key member states.
The meeting also touched on sensitive social issues. Jaishankar raised the case of Ariha Shah, an Indian child who has been in the foster care of German authorities for years. He emphasized the importance of ensuring her cultural rights and upbringing in an Indian environment, urging a swift resolution to the matter. “So, this matter needs to be resolved without further delay, and I think we have had some discussions today on that subject,” Jaishankar said.
Security concerns were not overlooked either. Jaishankar thanked Wadephul for Germany’s understanding of India’s fight against terrorism, noting that “Minister Wadephul has himself been explicit about our right to defend our people against terrorist attacks.” He also recalled that a recent Indian parliamentary delegation was warmly received in Germany following Operation Sindoor, a development that underscores the growing trust between the two nations.
As the world grapples with economic headwinds, political rifts, and the ongoing fallout from the Ukraine war, the India-Germany partnership appears poised for a new chapter. Both sides seem determined to push past obstacles—be they tariffs, regulatory disputes, or geopolitical tensions—and focus on building a relationship that’s resilient, mutually beneficial, and responsive to the challenges of a rapidly changing world.