India Strengthens Ties with Germany and Spain Amid Strategic Diplomatic Moves

India's recent diplomatic engagement with Germany and Spain underscores its commitment to fostering robust bilateral relations with Europe’s largest economies. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited New Delhi in quick succession, a notable move for India in strengthening its European connections. Scholz’s visit marked his third since 2023, as he attended the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, co-hosted in India for the first time, aimed at promoting trade and investment as German businesses seek to diversify away from China.

The visit by Sanchez, officially titled President of the Government of Spain, emphasized the promising yet underdeveloped trade relationship between India and Spain, currently valued at around $10 billion. Spain, which stands as India’s 16th largest investor, is seen as an emerging partner in technology and engineering, highlighted by a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on rail transport. A key moment was the launch of the Airbus-Tata facility for assembling C-295 aircraft, dedicated to the Indian Air Force, marking a new chapter in India’s defense manufacturing landscape.

Notably, the timing of these diplomatic meetings followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit. This reflects India’s nuanced diplomatic strategy amid global tensions, particularly the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Joint statements with both Germany and Spain addressed the Ukraine issue, expressing concerns over the humanitarian impact and the pressing need for peace.

Differences in approach, however, emerged concerning the West Asia crisis. While India and Germany’s joint statement condemned Hamas for its actions and advocated for the release of hostages, the statement with Spain focused on civilian protection and adherence to international law, without mentioning Hamas. Spain has taken a distinctive stance within Europe by recognizing Palestine and blocking arms shipments to Israel. These varied perspectives highlight the subtle diplomatic distinctions within India’s European alliances, reinforcing the importance of continued collaboration with European nations individually and through the European Union.

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