Germany aims to deepen cooperation with India in security and economic sectors to reduce New Delhi’s reliance on Moscow, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Reuters reports.
To advance these plans, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding, along with several agreements in critical minerals, healthcare, and artificial intelligence development.
Russian Oil
India remains closely linked to Russia in the military sphere: most of its weapons are Russian-made, and the country is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil.
Germany is urging New Delhi to reduce Russian oil imports and comply with international sanctions, but India has so far rejected these demands.
In December 2025, India reduced its Russian oil imports, indicating that Western sanctions and trade negotiations with the US are significantly influencing its procurement policy.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump warned that he was prepared to raise tariffs on India if the country did not cut its Russian oil purchases.
Free Trade Agreement
Merz also announced the prospect of signing a free trade agreement between the European Union and India by the end of this month. Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed that negotiations are nearly complete.
Conclusion
Germany’s plans to deepen cooperation with India in security and economic areas show a strategic push to reduce New Delhi’s dependence on Russia and strengthen EU-India ties. The drop in Russian oil imports in December 2025 demonstrates that international sanctions and US pressure are already affecting India’s procurement decisions.
At the same time, the signed memoranda and the upcoming free trade agreement could become key steps toward deeper economic integration and diversification of India’s supply sources.
