External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, will be on a visit to Germany and France from February 18-23, 2022. The minister will participate in the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany. He will also hold bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers and senior delegates attending MSC.
At MSC, Dr. S. Jaishankar will participate in a panel discussion on the Indo-Pacific and will also lead discussions at an Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) event.
In Paris, EAM will hold a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian on February 20. At the invitation of Le Drian, EAM will also attend the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific on February 22, an initiative of the French Presidency of the European Council. EAM will also hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from the EU and other Indo-Pacific countries on the sidelines of the Forum. He will also give an address at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).
India shares robust relations with France and Germany:
India and France share a close degree of opinions on several regional and global issues. The areas of defence & security cooperation, space cooperation, and civil nuclear cooperation constitute the principal pillars of our Strategic Partnership. Furthermore, India and France are expanding their cooperation in areas such as the Indian Ocean region, climate change (including the International Solar Alliance), and sustainable growth and development, among others. Both countries have also closely cooperated at the peak of the pandemic.
Germany is one of India’s most important partners in Europe, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora such as the United Nations. Germany’s technological advances and manufacturing prowess make it a natural partner for economic development and growth. India considers Germany to be an important trade and investment partner, as well as a partner in scientific research and collaboration. In addition, the two countries have held consultations on regional and international issues such as UN issues, International Cyber Issues, Disarmament & Nonproliferation, Export Control, Asia, and Africa.
