India will have a decisive role in shaping 21st century, German foreign mini

New Delhi: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Annalena Baerbock, was on a visit to India. In October, while addressing a joint press conference with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto, the German foreign minister had made provocative statements to India. There were strong reactions from India after Foreign Minister Baerbock, at the time, demanded that the UN intervene and resolve the Kashmir issue. However, Baerbock corrected this mistake before she visited India and claimed that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. Besides, while discussing with the German Foreign Minister, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar made it clear that India will not hold talks with Pakistan unless Pakistan stops the export of terrorism from across the border.

Moreover, a ‘Mobility Partnership’ agreement was concluded between the two countries during Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s India visit. It was claimed that the agreement would make it easier for the citizens of both countries to study, research and work in each other’s countries. Foreign Minister Annalena Bearbok said, underlining the importance of Germany’s cooperation with India, that Germany wants to develop strategic cooperation with India. But beyond that, Germany wants to establish cooperation with India on economic, climate change and security policy, she said. Bearbok added that these were not hollow words. India has been a trusted partner of Germany, she further added.

Along with this, the German foreign minister praised India, saying that India has lifted more than 40 crore people out of extreme poverty in the last 15 years, a population almost equal to the population of the European Union. Also, there is no doubt in our minds that India will play a decisive role in shaping the 21st century, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. Furthermore, Baerbock expressed her satisfaction, saying that India had given a message at the recently held G20 conference in Bali that it was ready to lead this organisation. Simultaneously, the German Foreign Minister also expressed her belief that India, which was an emerging economic power and a strong democracy, was a role model for many countries and would act as a bridge that connects countries.

Meanwhile, the impact of Foreign Minister Baerbock’s statements regarding Kashmir in a press conference in Germany with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto was also seen during her visit to India. Before this visit, Baerbock assured that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and confirmed that Germany’s previous position on this issue would remain. But India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed that the issue of Afghanistan and Pakistan was on the agenda in the discussions with the German foreign minister. EAM Jaishankar asserted that India would not hold talks with Pakistan unless it stopped exporting terrorism to India from across the border. Jaishankar has said Germany had responded to India’s role.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of India and Germany also discussed the Ukraine conflict and the developments in the Indo-Pacific region. In a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, Baerbock had been asked a question about China. Speaking on it, the German Foreign Minister said that China was a competitor of Germany and admitted that China was emerging as a rival in some fields. Germany’s foreign minister’s confirmation of a possible threat from China leads to attention.

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