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AHMEDABAD (dpa-AFX) - Germany and India intend to expand their cooperation in the defense sector. A corresponding declaration of intent between the two countries' defense ministries was signed during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to Ahmedabad.
TKMS to Build Submarines in India
No contracts for specific projects have been finalized yet. However, India plans to build six submarines in Mumbai in collaboration with the German company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), in a deal valued at eight billion euros. The signing of an agreement on this is expected soon and could open the door to further cooperation.
According to the latest statistics from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), India is considered the world's largest importer of arms. Between 2019 and 2023, the country still sourced 36% of its defense equipment from Russia, although this trend is declining. German arms exports to India could therefore also help reduce dependence on Russia.
A Total of 27 Agreements
In total, 27 declarations of intent and announcements were signed on the sidelines of talks between Merz and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – ranging from cooperation in rare earth mining to promoting youth hockey in both countries and recruiting skilled workers for the German healthcare system.
The recruitment of skilled workers from India has already been advanced by previous governments. According to the German Federal Employment Agency, the number of Indian employees subject to social security contributions in Germany rose from just under 25,000 in 2015 to nearly 170,000 in 2025. And with almost 60,000, the largest group of foreign students in Germany also comes from India./mfi/DP/zb
