Indo-German relationship: Expanding India’s Influence at the Global Stage

Abstract

India and Germany are two economic powerhouses in their own respective regions. Whereby, India is a strong economy of South Asia, Germany remains a dominant country of continental Europe. Both countries are also characterised by their shared values of being a pluralist society, respect for human rights and their shared commitment towards sustainable development. Germany’s economic recovery was extraordinary after the second world war, whereas, the Indian economy stagnated for more than four decades after independence. The second major milestone in the history of both countries was the fall of the Berlin wall followed by the consequent unification of Germany and the liberalisation reforms of 1991 in India. Both these developments changed the contours of the Indo-German relationship to transform their relationship into a strategic partnership. In the recent years, COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine war have had their own impact on this relationship. The foreign policy of India and Germany has largely hinged on all these factors. The economic and the geo-political consequences of this relationship can weigh heavily in the new global order. This paper looks at the dynamics of Indo-German relationship and its potential gains for both the countries as well as India’s ambitions of being a world leader.