BERLIN, Sept 10: Germany should update its export control regime to foster greater defence cooperation with India and look at ways to ramp up bilateral trade and investments, external affairs minister S Jaishankar told a gathering of German ambassadors in Berlin on Tuesday.
Jaishankar, who is in Germany on the second leg of a three-nation tour, called for enhanced cooperation in innovation and technology, especially AI, fintech and green technologies, and for close consultation between the two countries on global issues to build trust and confidence in their partnership.
He travelled to Germany after visiting Saudi Arabia for the first meeting between foreign ministers of India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh on Monday. After holding talks with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock and other ministers, Jaishankar will travel to Switzerland.
Addressing the annual ambassadors' conference of the German foreign ministry, Jaishankar sought enhanced defence cooperation, especially as India's private sector expands in this area. "It will require export controls updating as well. We welcome the recent air exercises between India and Germany and await the impending ship visits to Goa," he said.
Germany has some of Europe's most stringent controls for defence exports, though it has relaxed these measures to allow sales of small arms to the Indian military and to bid for a massive submarine contract for the Indian Navy. The move has coincided with an overall revamp of Germany's defence policy. —HT
