Leaders from Australia, Germany, and France to Visit India in Coming Months

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 10th Jan. Top foreign leaders are expected to visit India in the coming months, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, amid growing global concern about the impact of the Ukraine conflict on food and energy security.

According to people familiar with the preparations for the visits, the primary focus of these visits will be on expanding bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy, trade, technology, defense production, health-care, and people-to-people exchanges.

The conflict in Ukraine and its global implications, including food and energy security, will be a focus of the talks, they said.

While Chancellor Scholz is expected to visit India later next month, Albanese is expected to visit in early March, according to sources.

The French side was initially considering a visit by Macron in the first week of March, but nothing has been finalized, they said, adding that the trip could be advanced or pushed back.

They stated that no dates for the visits have been scheduled.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will visit India later this month as the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations.

G20 foreign ministers will also be in New Delhi for the powerful grouping’s foreign ministerial meeting, which is expected to take place on March 1 and 2.

Several foreign leaders will also visit India for the ‘Raisina Dialogue,’ which will take place from March 2 to 4. It is India’s premier geopolitical and geoeconomic conference.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, is expected to visit India in the coming months.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is also planning a bilateral visit to New Delhi, according to Indian officials.

According to the people cited above, both Germany and India are interested in expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, defense, clean energy, and climate change.

In preparation for Scholz’s long-awaited visit, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock paid a two-day visit in December.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Scholz met in the Indonesian resort city of Bali on November 16.

The two leaders first met on May 2 during Modi’s visit to Berlin for the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).

PM Modi then traveled to the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany on June 26 and 27 to attend the G7 grouping’s annual summit.

Scholz’s visit to India will be his first since becoming German Chancellor in December 2021.

According to the people, the leaders of Germany, France, and Australia are expected to discuss expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in the context of China’s growing military muscle in the region during their visits to India.

According to diplomatic sources, increasing trade and maritime security cooperation will be high on the agenda of Modi and Albanese’s talks.

It will be the Australian prime minister’s first visit to India since taking office in May.

The relationship between India and Australia has improved in recent years. The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) entered into force last month and is expected to significantly expand two-way trade.

Expansion of overall defense and strategic cooperation are likely to be top priorities on French President Macron’s visit to India.

The French fighter jet Rafale is said to be ahead of the American F/A-18 Super Hornet in the multibillion-dollar contract to supply the Indian Navy with 26 deck-based jets.

During Macron’s visit, India is expected to announce the firming up of the procurement of the Rafale jet’s marine version. However, no official word has been issued.

Emmanuel Bonne, the French President’s Diplomatic Advisor, visited India last week, ostensibly to prepare for Macron’s trip.

Bonne met with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and discussed a wide range of issues.

He also met with Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa.