[Cheng Shijian, special correspondent of Global Times in Pakistan] According to a report by Indian TV station in New Delhi, German Defense Minister Pistori Uss visited India on the 6th and held bilateral talks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries. This is the first time that a German Defense Minister has visited India since 2015.
Pistori Uss said at a press conference that European countries lack the "will and channels" to provide weapons to India, and that India’s current arms imports are "too dependent on Russia, which is not in India’s national interest". He said that German naval ship supplier TKMS may participate in India’s bidding for the purchase of six submarines at a cost of US$ 5.2 billion. In addition, Germany also hopes to strengthen military cooperation with Indian navy and air force.
According to Deccan Herald reported on the 7th, Pistori Uss went to Mumbai to visit the Indian Western Naval Command and India Mazagan Dock Co., Ltd., and attended the meeting between Mazagan Dock Co., Ltd. and TKMS. German newspaper frankfurter allgemeine zeitung reported that the two companies may sign a memorandum of understanding on submarine project cooperation.
According to DPA, Pistori Uss called India "one of Germany’s most important partners in the region", and the German government sent a frigate to the Indo-Pacific region in 2021, and will deploy maritime forces in the region again in 2024, including a frigate and a supply ship. Singh said that with India’s rich and skilled labor force and Germany’s advantages in science and technology and investment, India and Germany can establish a "symbiotic relationship" in the defense field on the basis of common goals and complementary strengths. Singh also said that he plans to invite German companies to invest in the "defense industrial corridors" in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and to incorporate Indian defense industry into the German military industrial system to increase the flexibility of the supply chain.
India’s Firewire magazine said that Pistori Uss’ visit to India was ostensibly to persuade India to reduce its dependence on Russian armaments, but the actual purpose was that Germany hoped to win over some Indian markets in the field of defense.
According to The Hindu, the day before meeting with Pistori Uss, Singh met with US Defense Secretary Austin in New Delhi on the 5th, which was Austin’s second visit to India since he took office as Defense Minister. The report said that the two sides discussed ways to further expand bilateral strategic contacts before Indian Prime Minister Modi visited Washington, and discussed some new defense industry cooperation projects.
The Associated Press said that Austin’s visit coincided with India’s efforts to strengthen its defense industry by acquiring new technologies and reducing its dependence on imports, especially Russian imports. Although the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, Russia is still India’s largest supplier of military equipment.