India and Germany Hold Talks on Bilateral Security and Defence Matters

The India-Germany High Defence Committee (HDC) meeting was chaired by Germany’s State Secretary for Defense, Benedikt Zimmer, and Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane on Tuesday in Berlin. The development of defence cooperation as a fundamental tenet of the Strategic Partnership between Germany and India was the main topic of discussion between the two parties as they engaged in a range of bilateral security and defence issues. According to a press release from the Ministry of Defence, Giridhar Aramane and Benedikt Zimmer held discussions about the regional situation as well as possible defense industrial projects and proposals. The necessity of forging deeper defense industry ties between Germany and India was emphasized by both parties.

“They exchanged views on the regional security situation, discussed likely joint exercises with Germany in the Indo-Pacific, and deliberated on potential defence industrial projects and proposals,” the Ministry of Defence said in a press release. “They underlined the necessity of forging stronger defense ties and uniting the defense sectors on both sides. The cooperation in advanced technology for defense was highlighted in particular,” it continued. Following German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius’ 2023 visit to India, the High Defence Committee (HDC) meeting between Germany and India takes place.

“Strengthening ties: Defence Secretary Shri @giridhararamane and Germany’s State Secretary, Mr. Benedikt Zimmer, co-chaired the India-Germany High Defence Committee meeting in Berlin, fostering deeper collaboration in security and defence realms,” said Ministry of Defence Principal Spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu in a post on X. Giridhar Aramane met with the German Institute of International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, or SWP), a well-known think tank, in Berlin while he was in the country.

India was also among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Germany after the Second World War. In 2021, the two nations marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. India and Germany have a ‘Strategic Partnership’ since May 2000, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock visited India to attend the Raisina Dialogue held on February 21-24. Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics committed to addressing the most challenging issues faced by the international community.

On the fringes of the Munich Security Conference on February 16, German counterpart Annalena Baerbock met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The two leaders talked about the future and the world’s problems. The next round of the India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations was reviewed by the two leaders. “So good to meet my German colleague FM @ABaerbock on #MSC2024 sidelines,” Jaishankar wrote on X. An extensive discussion about the world’s problems and the way forward. I valued her opinions and insights. reviewed the plans for our upcoming Inter Governmental Consultations meeting as well.”