German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen in India next week

NEW DELHI: German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen will arrive here next week on a three-day visit during which she is expected to push for stronger bilateral defence cooperation.

Leyen will arrive here on May 26 and hold talks with her counterpart Manohar Parrikar besides other top officials.

The German side is also expected to make a strong pitch for being part of the 'Make in India' initiative.

India and Germany have a 'strategic partnership' since 2001.

The two countries have several institutionalised arrangements to discuss bilateral and global issues of interest like Strategic Dialogue, Foreign Office Consultations, Joint Commission on Industrial and Economic Cooperation, High Technology Partnership Group, High Defence Committee and Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism among others.