India – a market of hope for Germany? “Handelsblatt”: They may prove to be a demanding partner
2026-01-12 19:19
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2026-01-12 19:19
The first major economic trip of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leading not to China but to India, is a signal of a geopolitical change. India is today a “market of hope”, but it may turn out to be a demanding partner for Germany, said the economic daily “Handelsblatt”.
According to the newspaper, Merz's two-day visit to India, which started on Monday, shows how urgently Germany needs new economic and strategic partners. “The times when German chancellors traveled with economic delegations to China and focused on stable growth are over. The federal government must focus on diversification, and India is now the logical first target,” the daily emphasized.
As he noted, India, as the fastest growing large economy, is a key player in the Indo-Pacific region and a power that is confidently positioning itself in the new world order. “For the EU and Germany, this country is a huge opportunity: as a sales market, a place of production and a counterweight to excessive dependence on China,” said “Handelsblatt”.
He noted that, like Europe, India must face the fact that China, Russia and the United States no longer play by the same rules. According to the newspaper, the geopolitical situation is bringing India and Europe closer together.
However, “Handelsblatt” believes that India will be a difficult partner for Germany and Chancellor Merz. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is primarily implementing a program that is beneficial to India. In security matters, the country continues to cooperate closely with Russia, from which it still imports gas and oil. Whoever negotiates with Delhi is negotiating with a country that knows its own interests very well,” the daily noted.
However, Merz's journey is already a turning point because it shows the beginning of a new German economic policy, which must take into account a world in which markets and influence are redistributed, the German newspaper emphasized.
From Berlin Iwona Weidmann (PAP)
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