What happened:
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will make his first official visit to India from January 12 to 13, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit will include meetings in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and discussions on the India–Germany Strategic Partnership.
Why it matters to India:
The visit reinforces India’s strategic ties with Germany, with a focus on expanding cooperation in trade, technology, defence and sustainable development, and strengthens India’s engagement with Europe ahead of the India–EU Summit.