India, Germany seal 19 deals across defence, tech, minerals

New Delhi: India and Germany on Monday signed a slew of initiatives spanning defence, trade, critical minerals and technology following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Gandhinagar. A total of 19 MoUs and joint declarations were announced, including visa-free airport transit through Germany for Indian passport holders. The two sides also unveiled joint declarations of intent on an India-Germany Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership and cooperation in critical minerals.

To strengthen defence industrial cooperation, the two countries signed a declaration focused on co-development and co-production. The leaders endorsed deeper military-to-military engagement through joint exercises, training and senior-level exchanges, and noted regular reciprocal port calls by naval ships. They also welcomed the establishment of a new Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue.

The leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and called for sustained international efforts in line with the UN Charter and international law. They strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, and in Delhi on November 10, 2025, and committed to strengthening cooperation against terrorist entities, including those listed under the UN 1267 sanctions regime. They welcomed the ratification of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and noted progress under the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.


Progress in cooperation on critical and emerging technologies - including semiconductors, critical minerals, digitalisation, telecommunications, health and the bioeconomy - was also welcomed, consolidating the Innovation and Technology Partnership Roadmap. The leaders underlined the importance of enhanced institutional research and industrial collaboration across the semiconductor value chain.

They noted advances in critical minerals cooperation under a joint declaration of intent, with plans to explore opportunities in exploration, R&D, processing and recycling, and the acquisition and development of critical mineral assets in India, Germany and third countries.

Pointing out that more than 2,000 German companies have been present in India for a long time, Modi said this reflected their unwavering confidence in India and the immense opportunities the country offers. Addressing the media at the joint press briefing, Modi said bilateral trade between India and Germany had reached an all-time high, crossing $50 billion.

"The growing cooperation in defence and security is a symbol of our mutual trust and shared vision," Modi said, adding that a roadmap was being worked out to enhance cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries, opening up new opportunities for co-development and co-production.