German Chancellor Merz's 1st India visit set for January 12
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is heading to India on January 12, marking his first official trip to the country—and to Asia—since taking office last year.
He'll be welcomed by PM Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, with plans to boost ties between the two countries, especially around defense and strategy.
Why this visit matters
This isn't just a formal handshake—Merz and Modi will dive into cultural experiences like visiting Sabarmati Ashram and flying kites at the International Kite Festival before getting down to serious talks about defense, trade, tech, education, and more.
With Germany recently easing export controls on defense items for India, both sides are looking to level up their partnership.
The timing is big too: it comes just before the India-EU Summit later this month, putting Germany front and center as a key European ally for India's future plans.