India-Germany ties at 'all‑time high', says German ambassador
NEW DELHI: German Ambassador to India Philip Ackermann said the India‑Germany relationship is at an "all‑time high", highlighting robust cooperation across trade, political and strategic sectors.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ANI, Ackermann pointed to the success of the Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development (GSDP) and said India has emerged as a global leader in renewable energy. "I am very happy to say that every year we get stronger and closer relations," he told ANI. "India is now one of the most impressive producers of renewable energy, and I am proud to say Germany has played a part in this development. We are now even learning from India, particularly from the advancements in your private sector."
On trade, Ackermann expressed optimism about the long‑awaited India‑EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), calling it a "huge game changer" for German businesses that would encourage further investment in India. "We hope to see it signed by the end of this year," he said, adding that the agreement is less controversial in the European Parliament than other FTAs and that implementation could be ready by the end of the Indian fiscal year.
On defence, the ambassador said cooperation is entering a new phase after historically slow progress. "Defence will be a new chapter, which will be larger than in the past years," he said, noting Germany's positive stance on the ongoing negotiations for a submarine deal with India.
Turning to global security, Ackermann welcomed the recent halt in hostilities in the Persian Gulf and said it had a favourable effect on global oil prices and trade flows. He expressed hope that diplomatic talks on Iran's nuclear capabilities will succeed.
On the conflict in Ukraine, the ambassador highlighted a shift in Ukrainian military strategy, citing the effective use of new technologies to strike deep within Russian territory. "The Ukrainians have been extremely aggressive... with their new technologies, they have really had an impact inside Russia," he said, adding that strikes can now reach and damage refineries and infrastructure far from Ukraine, creating significant problems for Russia.
Nevertheless, Ackermann characterised the overall situation on the ground as a stalemate, with "both sides sit in the trenches" and only marginal territorial changes. He voiced frustration at the lack of diplomatic engagement from the Russian side. "Frankly, and I will be very honest with you, I don't see any readiness by the Russian side to engage in this discussion, and that is very frustrating," he told ANI. He reaffirmed Europe's commitment to Ukraine, saying the continent stands firmly with Kyiv and that support will continue.
The ambassador also highlighted the growing Indian diaspora in Germany and the success of Indian students there, noting positive results in skilled labour migration in nursing, caregiving and engineering. "With 60,000 Indian students in Germany, we see that they are very satisfied and content," he said, adding that people‑to‑people ties will strengthen as the diaspora grows.
Commenting on the ongoing football championship, Ackermann expressed support for the German team despite a recent setback against Ecuador. "I keep my fingers crossed for the German team," he said, calling the tournament a tough and massive event and noting the difficulty of watching matches from India because of the timing.
(With inputs from RSS/ANI)
