PM Modi, German Chancellor Merz To Visit Sabarmati Ashram, Join Kite Festival: Defence Ties To Get Big Boost

Final Up to date:January 06, 2026, 21:23 IST

Friedrich Merz pays an official go to to India from January 12 to 13, on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. (Picture by way of X/@narendramodi)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is ready to go to India from January 12 to 13, marking his first official go to to the nation and inaugural journey to Asia. He can be obtained by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, the place they’ll go to the enduring Sabarmati Ashram and take part within the Worldwide Kite Competition on the Sabarmati Riverfront.

Their discussions will give attention to strengthening cooperation in commerce, funding, expertise, schooling, and defence, with Germany having eliminated round 110 defence objects from its export management checklist. This transfer is anticipated to spice up defence ties between the 2 nations. The leaders may even interact with enterprise and trade leaders, exchanging views on regional and international points.

Chancellor Merz may even go to GIFT Metropolis, the place German investments are increasing, and Bengaluru as a part of his two-day go to.

Sources instructed CNN-News18 that the 2 leaders pays homage at Sabarmati Ashram on Monday morning. They may then be a part of the continuing Uttarayan celebrations by taking part within the Kite Competition on the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.

“German Chancellor’s go to holds excessive significance as it’s being held forward of the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), which is scheduled to be held in Germany later this 12 months,” sources emphasised.

Delegation-level talks can be held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, adopted by a joint press assertion. Chancellor Merz can be more likely to go to GIFT Metropolis, the place German investments, together with Deutsche Financial institution’s operations, are increasing.

Defence ties will take centre stage, with sources indicating main discussions anticipated on this area. Germany has eliminated round 110 out of 130 defence objects from its export management checklist, paving the best way for deeper collaboration with India.

Nonetheless, sources underlined {that a} submarine deal for the Indian Navy is unlikely throughout this go to.

The second leg of the chancellor’s go to is to Bengaluru.

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