Germany views President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India as a good opportunity for New Delhi to remind the Russian leader to stop the war in Ukraine and discuss strategies to end the fighting, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann has said.
During an exclusive interview, Ackermann also talked about Germany’s support for a closer defense and security partnership between India and the European Union (EU) ahead of the summit with the 27-member bloc in January, as well as the growing security ties between New Delhi and Berlin, which also includes the conclusion of a submarine deal.
Why. Europe, particularly Germany and France, have made it clear that Russia is blocking efforts for a lasting peace in Ukraine. Russian President Putin is going to visit India. How do Germany and Europe view this visit and do you think India has a role to play in ending the conflict?
A: First of all, I think we have to acknowledge that there is some movement in the peace talks now. The Americans have put something on the table, a plan that does not meet the expectations of many, but at least it is a start. I think it’s a good sign that we are discussing this plan now. However, this very clearly needs to be amended and needs to be negotiated, so I don’t think a solution will come any time soon. The voices we hear from Russia are not very reassuring. I do not think that the Russian side has really engaged actively and constructively in these negotiations.
President Putin’s visit to India is one of his very few visits to any other country. This is probably a good opportunity. India has good relations with Europe and America as well as with Russia. I think there is no harm in reminding the Russian President that it would be better to stop this war as soon as possible. I think in these circumstances, there is ample opportunity to sit at a table and discuss the strategy to reach the end.
Why. There is a growing perception that America is withdrawing from the security of Europe and Ukraine. Security and defense cooperation is also an important part of the upcoming India-EU summit. Your thoughts.
A: I would not say that right now we are seeing a withdrawal of US security guarantees for Europe. What we have seen is a very clear expectation from the US that Europe spend more for its security. This is a good argument because for many years we have not spent as much as we could have. Europe feels under threat now and more than ever. You must have seen intrusion into airspace by planes and drones everywhere, drones with lights. This is a clear provocation which should be seen as a threat. Therefore, many European countries, including Germany, have decided to spend up to 5% more of GDP on defence. We are still convinced that the very important alliance between the US and Europe will not end in the near future.
The India-EU summit is going to be very important for two reasons. One is the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which everyone expects to be completed. And there is a new security and defense partnership.
Why. Is there a concern that Putin’s visit could impact the India-EU summit?
A: I would say that Europe understands very well that countries have different relations with other countries. We feel threatened by Russia. India does not feel threatened by Russia. It is this national interest that prompts India to deal more constructively with Russia. We accept it and we understand it. We also think that when dealing with Russia, you should not forget what Russia does to Eastern Europe. It is our wish and hope that the Indian side will keep this in mind while dealing with Russia.
Keeping that aside, I would say that India and Europe have just developed such a strong bond that I do not see any major threat ahead of the India-EU summit. I think we will have a great summit with great results. FTA is a game changer in many ways. I would say it’s great for our business and economy. It will change our outlook towards India and it will change our investments in India. But the same is true for defense too – we are negotiating a submarine deal with India and we have significantly increased our defense cooperation over the last few years. This means that Europe considers India a very strong partner and a very strong ally when it comes to defending the international rules-based order.
The government is not in the talks (for the submarine deal), but the companies are. Once they decide on the price, we initiate a government agreement to take the deal forward. I say this with utmost caution, but I am confident that in the next few weeks we will begin negotiations on this government agreement.
Why. Will this possibly be one of the consequences of the German Chancellor’s planned visit next year?
A: We hope that the Chancellor will come very soon and I think there is every possibility that he will come. I would not be surprised if this issue comes up on the table during the leaders’ talks. But of course, government-to-government is a very precise, very technical arrangement, so it’s not something that the two leaders will negotiate on. This will be negotiated at the Defense Ministry level and how it will work remains to be seen.
Why. Would Germany be interested in pursuing security and defense partnership with India for the revival of Europe and cooperation in defense industry?
A: Sure. I think there are a lot of interesting ideas to pursue. For example, we have joint ventures between German and Indian defense companies, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Where we think there is absolutely scope for cooperation and that is for both sides – not just purchase of German equipment or technology by India but also export of Indian technology to Germany. I think it’s a possibility and we’re considering it.
Why. What are the other achievements of the Chancellor’s visit in areas like trade?
A: If he comes, he will definitely come with a business delegation. When you add up goods and services, our trade is worth about $50 billion a year. It is a good amount (but) we can increase it. The interesting thing is that it is a very balanced business. The German side is slightly in plus in goods, but the Indian side is in plus in services. There are 750 companies investing in Germany and this number has increased rapidly in the last few years. German companies prefer India as a place to set up shop. We hear from about two companies a week inquiring at our Chamber of Commerce about the possibility of opening branches in India. Because of your fantastic growth of 8% more and more small and medium sized companies or niche companies are very keen to come to India. It’s more interesting when you grow at the same pace over the coming years. But at the same time, freedom from risk is also very important.
Why. Would you like India to do more to ensure predictability and security of investments?
A: Investment and security will be very important for us. I think it’s been an integral part of the whole package. It would be great if you could reach a conclusion on an investment protection agreement that is useful for every business, I would strongly recommend them to move forward.
Why. India has its own concerns in the Indo-Pacific region. There is tension with China but both sides still have a large number of troops deployed on the border. Indian leaders have said that Europe, at times, does not appreciate India’s security problems. How does Germany view the situation in the region?
A: I would say that we fully accept the challenges that India is facing on its northern borders. We have followed very closely what happened in 2020 and before and we are glad that since then, at least, there has been peace on the border. Our European experience tells us that it is good when neighbors talk to each other. You may be far away from each other (on some issues), but it is better to sit together and develop an understanding about each other’s position. So I would say that the idea that India is in regular contact with its Chinese counterparts is better than not. I don’t know whether this will solve the problem or not, but I think generally speaking, we will always encourage closer contact with neighbors. There is a lot of interest in the Indian private sector in China. China is India’s main trading partner, so there is a very strong link that should not be underestimated.
Why. Germany now has the largest Indian diaspora within the EU region. What are the next steps to strengthen people-to-people ties?
A: Germany is now very happy with the 300,000 Indians present in the country. Their monthly salary is higher than the average German salary. This means that it is a very successful group of people, including 60,000 students from our universities, who like Indian students because they are ambitious, hard-working and dedicated. We hope that after graduation they will stay in Germany and find jobs.
We have a lot of nurses, carers and apprentices in small craft shops from India. We are still keen to have dedicated and good people come to Germany.
In this flow you also have elements that are not so good. For example, agents who cheat customers in a very sad way. We see people going into debt and going to so-called universities that don’t provide value for their money. They operate illegally in the black market, which is a punishable offense, and they live in very precarious conditions that we want to avoid. Often it is not the fault of the people coming to Germany, but that they get the wrong agent. So, be careful, think twice, seek advice, go to another agent to compare.
Overall, it is indeed a success story. We have a very happy Indian community which is widely accepted, although migration is a controversial issue in Germany. But compared to other diasporas, the Indian diaspora has been really accepting and has proven to be very quick to adapt and assimilate.
We will continue to do our recruitment within the framework of the systems that we have established, which are mainly for nurses and carers, because they have to be trained in German to a certain level.
