Merz visits India: Kites, Conversations, and a Potential EU Trade Agreement?

Hello everyone. Just imagine this scenario. Friedrich Merz, the new Chancellor of Germany, heads to India for an official visit to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They play around by flying kites together through the sky of New Delhi. That sounds fun, doesn't it? However, this visit in January 2026 is not merely recreational; it represents a confluence of culture, geopolitics, and extensive discussions regarding enhancing trade relationships.

The two leaders covered many topics in their meeting. For example, they discussed conflicts related to Ukraine and Gaza, threats posed by terrorism, and how they can both work to mitigate China's increasing influence in the global economy. As a result of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Germany has seen, and will see further, heavy tariffs imposed on almost all goods produced in Germany and exported to the U.S. Along those same lines, both countries have begun to explore the possibility of entering into a free trade agreement (FTA) as they are both threatening tariffs on each other's exports due to fears regarding protectionism.

Merz and Modi also discussed a potential increase in trade between Germany and India, such as: Easing of visa issues for German nationals wanting to travel to India for work; Expansion of technology-related industries (Germany also has many Indian tech workers); and Renewable Energy agreements between the two countries.

As India's and Germany's trade relationships have strengthened over the years (over $20 billion in trade exchanges in 2021), this trade partnership can be viewed as a way to further strengthen trade relationships in the future.