EAM Jaishankar meets German MP, discusses growing bilateral ties
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met German Member of Parliament Jurgen Hardt in New Delhi and discussed growing bilateral ties and recent global developments In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Always nice to catch up with German MP @juergenhardt. Discussed our bilateral cooperation and global developments."According to MEA, Germany is one of India's most valued partners in Europe. The two countries share a strong strategic partnership , which has grown steadily over the decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1951. In March 2021, both sides marked 70 years of diplomatic ties.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have held regular meetings, both bilaterally and on the sidelines of key global summits. In fact, they have met six times in the last two years.Their latest meeting took place during the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy in June 2024, where they reviewed ongoing cooperation. Prior to that, the two leaders met at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023 and also during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in May 2023. Chancellor Scholz had also paid a standalone State visit to India in February 2023, a first by a German Chancellor since the launch of the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) format.India and Germany held their 6th IGC in Berlin in May 2022, co-chaired by PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz. Several agreements were signed in the fields of clean energy, health, agroecology, skill development, mobility, and more. A major outcome was the Joint Declaration of Intent on the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP), as per MEA.Separately, EAM Jaishankar also met Slovenia's Ambassador to India, Mateja Vodeb Ghosh, for a farewell call.In a message on X, he said, "Pleased to receive Ambassador Mateja Vodeb Ghosh of Slovenia this evening for a farewell call. Appreciate her contributions towards building stronger ties. Wish her the best for future endeavors."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
'It's only been 8 hours': Donald Trump threatens to impose 'secondary sanctions' on India; hints at possible ban on China
Hours after the US President slapped an additional 25 per cent on India, bringing the total to 50 percent, Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to impose secondary sanctions. During a press interaction, US President Donald Trump was questioned about why India was being singled out for purchasing oil from Russia when many other countries do the same. In response, Trump said, "It's only been 8 hours. So let's see what happens. You're going to see a lot more. You're going to see so much secondary sanctions." Amid deepening India-Russia oil ties, the US appears to be stepping up sanctions against New Delhi, signaling a broader strategy by President Trump to economically isolate Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. US imposed additional tariffs on India Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday announcing that India will face an extra 25% tariff over and above the 25% rate announced last week. While the 25% rate is effective from August 7, 2025, the newly announced additional tariff will come into place 21 days from now. Following this directive, Indian imports to the US, except for a limited exclusion list, will face a combined tariff of 50%." The ad valorem duty be in addition to any other duties, fees, taxes, exactions, and charges applicable to such imports...," the order said. "I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil. Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent," it said. India calls tariff increase '3Us- Unfair, unjustified and unreasonable' India's response was swift and firm, with the ministry of external affairs denouncing the tariff increase as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable." The ministry emphasised that India's Russian oil imports are driven by market considerations and energy security requirements for its 1.4 billion population. The MEA statement further asserted India's commitment to protecting its national interests, describing the US decision as detrimental to their strategic partnership and mutual respect principles. "The United States has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India. It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest. We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," the MEA said. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his first Chinese visit in over seven years amidst deteriorating US relations, Trump has suggested similar tariff measures against China. Trump may impose sanctions on China When questioned about potential sanctions on China, Trump acknowledged the possibility, stating that additional secondary sanctions might be implemented to pressure Russia. He confirmed that after India's case, similar actions could be extended to other nations, potentially including China. "It may happen... I can't tell you yet," Trump said. "We did it with India. We're doing it probably with a couple of others. One of them could be China." Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays .
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Germany, Ukraine's second biggest backer, is ready to play a larger role
Since June, the intensity of Russian attacks on Ukrainian territories has increased significantly, leading to a large number of civilian deaths. June 2025 recorded the highest civilian casualty since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. As per numbers by the UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine, 232 people were killed and 1,343 were wounded. On 30 June, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul travelled to Kyiv to reiterate Germany's military, financial, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine. 'In Ukraine, it will be decided whether our Europe remains a place where freedom and human dignity hold sway, or becomes a continent on which violence can be used to redraw borders,' said Mr. Wadephul. This follows visits by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Berlin in May and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to Kyiv in mid-June. Mr. Pistorius announced a total German military aid worth €9 billion for 2025. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Bundestag on July 9 said that all diplomatic means to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war had been exhausted. 'When a criminal regime openly questions another country's right to exist with military force and sets out to destroy the political order of freedom on the entire European continent, the federal government I lead will do everything in its power to prevent this,' said Mr. Merz. Patrick Keller, the head of the Centre for Security and Defence at the Berlin-based German Society for Foreign Relations (DGAP), notes that Germany has been at the forefront in supporting Ukraine since 2022. However, he acknowledges that in the light of the increased Russian aggression, these efforts look insufficient. 'We have to continue to increase our efforts. With the change in the German government, there has been a new focus on defence and security policy overall. It is understood that the Ukrainian effort also serves as a deterrent for Europe in the era of an aggressive Russia,' said Mr. Keller. Niklas Balbon, Research Fellow with the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi), a Berlin-based think tank, noted that while Germany has promised financial aid to Ukraine, the challenge is how soon Ukraine's weapons production can be scaled up. Trump's flip-flop Ever since U.S. President Donald Trump's infamous White House meeting with Ukraine's Mr. Zelenskyy in February this year, Europe has been on tenterhooks. The U.S. remains one of the largest members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), but Mr. Trump has made it clear that European countries must increase their defence spending. Mr. Trump's views on Russian President Vladimir Putin have also gone from being positive following some 'respectful conversations' earlier this year to outright criticism in the last month. Mr. Keller notes that one cannot change the fundamental attitude of the current state of affairs with the U.S. government, but can make the most of it. 'In the current situation, Mr. Trump is getting increasingly critical of Mr. Putin and is willing to support Ukraine in innovative ways. Europe has to jump at this opportunity. We really need to get going with increased capacity in Ukraine and helping them to produce weapons on their own. The German defence industry is more than ready to build in Ukraine and help them scale and build weapons-making factories,' said Mr. Keller. Ukraine does produce close to 40% of the weapons it uses in the war at home, as of mid-2025, and U.S. support covers 30%. There are plans to increase domestic weapons production to 50% within the next six months, as per Mr. Zelenskyy. This is where Germany is expected to help out. In 2024, drones manufactured in Ukraine made up 96% of all unmanned aerial vehicles used in combat. Ukraine is approaching a capacity to make 4 million drones annually by this year. Mr. Balbon notes that even though Europe would like to be more independent from the U.S., it does not have the capabilities to be more autonomous or produce the weapons needed in Ukraine quickly enough. 'European decision makers are thinking about how to game the U.S. administration to support Ukraine, while also allowing Mr. Trump to sell it as a victory to his voter base. The NATO countries buying weapons from the U.S. to donate to Ukraine is one such way,' said Mr. Balbon. As per NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Britain, the Netherlands, and Canada are ready to buy weapons from the U.S. to be donated to Ukraine. The weapons include Patriot missile batteries and air defence systems, F-16 fighter jets, Howitzer artillery systems and more. Patriot is the world's most advanced air-defence system. In May, Mr. Merz had said that there would be no range restrictions for weapons that would be delivered to Ukraine. However, Defence Minister Mr. Pistorius has said that Germany won't be providing Kyiv with the long-range Taurus cruise missiles that can strike targets that are 500 km away. 'If one looks at the Patriot systems, the U.S. has 60 ready, whereas Germany just has 4-6. It is a question of scale and timing, as it takes months to build them. If Ukraine needs these systems now, the most effective way is to buy them from the U.S.,' said Mr. Keller, noting that despite all the challenges posed by the Trump government, Europe cannot give the impression that it wants the U.S. out – it's in no one's interest. Modern warfare While Germany has announced billions in aid for helping Ukraine build weapons, experts say that investments have to be made in the right capabilities, keeping in mind the nature of future warfare. 'The warfare of the future will rely a lot on unmanned drones, AI technology, space-based systems and so on, so you would need a smart combination of various factors to succeed,' said Mr. Keller, noting that a large part of defence spending has to go to nimble industries and startups over large defence contractors. German defence startups such as Helsing, Quantum Systems, Stark Defense have been at the forefront of providing drones to Ukraine alongside large defence players like Rheinmetall. 'It is important to keep in mind that the biggest innovator and driver in drone warfare is Ukraine. NATO countries are learning from this and playing catch-up. German military is also learning how Ukrainians are using drones, so there is a flow of knowledge in both directions,' said Mr. Balbon. Political challenges Even before the new government led by the coalition between the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) assumed office, Germany had agreed on a €500 billion budget to be spent on civilian, climate, economic and defence needs. This special budget is over and above Germany's annual budget. For sectors like infrastructure and defence spending, Germany also exempted the conservative 'debt brake' that only allowed it to borrow 0.35% of its GDP. 'The lifting of the debt brake allows the German government to balance defence spending with other forms of spending when it comes to lifting the economy, improving domestic infrastructure and so on. In the ruling coalition, the CDU also wants to reform social spending and lower expenditure, as they argue that the German government is spending too much money. For Social Democrats, that's not in their interest. This is the key tension,' said Mr. Balbon. 'The increased defence spending isn't just key for Germany, but also largely for Europe, as it is a deterrence against Russia in the mid-term. The capabilities that are being acquired with this money, in theory and practice, can be sent to Ukraine as well,' said Mr. Keller. But it does come with some political backlash from the far right and far left parties within Germany. According to Mr. Balbon, the far left parties are opposed to military spending in general, as they don't want Germany to invest in armed forces. 'The far right (namely, Alternative for Germany or AfD) are more interested and aligned ideologically with Russia. But there's a paradox – they want Germany to stop supporting Ukraine, but they also want a stronger German military whilst negating the very reason there is a need for larger German defence spending - namely, Russian aggression,' said Mr. Balbon. 'Given German history, there's an inherent criticism of militarisation and spending on military purposes as opposed to spending on social benefits, childcare, rent and so on. It will be important for defence planners and the industry representatives to get this mix right,' said Mr. Keller. Neighbours perception Given Germany's history, especially in the Second World War, it is generally wary of taking any leadership position within Europe. When it comes to Ukraine, Germany has been the second-largest supporter, after the US, in terms of weapons and aid. Germany's increased spending isn't scaring its neighbours but is being welcomed, noted Mr. Keller. 'Historically difficult neighbours, such as the Baltic countries, Poland, and the Czech Republic, feel that Germany is finally living up to its responsibility. It has prompted other wealthy EU countries, such as France, to increase their own defence spending,' said Mr. Keller. Mr. Balbon concurs. 'The predominant fear in Europe and Germany is that at some point in the future, Russia will attack the Baltic countries. It's not so much a fear of massive on-ground invasion, but that Russia will try out some smaller level attack to see how NATO responds – whether it will trigger Article 5 or which members will come to help,' said Mr. Balbon. Article 5 is a cornerstone of NATO, which states that an armed attack against any one NATO member is an attack against all. Meaning if any NATO member is attacked, other members are obligated to assist by 'such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force'. At the recent NATO Summit in The Hague on June 24-25, all 32 member countries agreed to increase their defence spending to 5% of their GDP by 2035. Germany now has a permanent brigade (to have 5,000 troops by 2027) in Lithuania, which is one of the three Baltic countries bordering Russia. Estonia and Latvia are also expected to get a European multinational battlegroup presence. Mr. Keller notes that there are no guarantees that all NATO members would fulfil the 5% target, given past record when many countries failed to fulfil the 2% target. 'Domestic political pressure and economic reasons may cause individual countries to lag behind. That should not happen, and it is the responsibility of wealthy countries to lead by example. This is why it is important for Germany to fulfil its obligations. There is a shared perception among the NATO members that they are stronger united,' said Mr. Keller. (Nimish Sawant is an independent journalist based in Berlin)
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Israeli President demands truth after German media exposes fake Gaza photography
Tel Aviv [ Israel], August 7 (ANI/TPS): During a visit to Tallinn on Wednesday, President Isaac Herzog of Israel used a joint press appearance with Estonian President Alar Karis to call out what he described as Hamas-led propaganda efforts, citing recent investigative reports from leading German newspapers that revealed staged images from Gaza. Herzog contrasted these fabricated scenes with the very real suffering of Israeli hostages, exposing what he called Hamas' 'hypocrisy and manipulation."Standing alongside President Karis at the Estonian Presidential Palace, Herzog held up two photos: one of Israeli hostage Eviatar David, a Nova music festival attendee now emaciated after months in captivity; and another of Rom Breslavsky, who appeared in a recent Hamas video. Herzog juxtaposed these with a now-controversial image from Gaza showing Palestinians holding empty pots in front of a food distribution center. 'It was all staged," Herzog said. 'There was food in the next room — the hostages who escaped from tunnels told us this. The captors are not starving. Our people are."His remarks follow revelations from the Suddeutsche Zeitung, which published an expose showing how Hamas uses staged imagery to sway international opinion. According to the investigation, professional photographers — some working with international news agencies — were found directing civilians to pose with empty pots and in fabricated scenarios meant to convey starvation. 'At least some of the images were presented in a false or misleading context," the paper such photographer, identified by Bild as Anas Zayed Fatiyeh, was hired by Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency. Fatiyeh, according to the report, regularly posts anti-Israel content on social media, including expletive-laden messages and calls to 'Free Palestine." His photographs have been published in major outlets such as the BBC and CNN despite their questionable authenticity.'Why are German and international news agencies continuing to use his images when many are clearly biased or staged?" Bild manipulation of war photography triggered alarm within Germany's press circles. The German Journalists' Association (DJV) issued a statement warning of 'manipulation attempts through professionally produced press photography." DJV Chair Mika Beuster noted that 'all parties involved in this war — including media and intelligence services — are using the power of imagery like never before to shape public perception."A historian and visual documentation expert interviewed by Suddeutsche Zeitung added that while not all such images are outright fakes, they are often 'positioned a certain way or paired with misleading captions that tap into our visual memory and emotions."Herzog urged the international community to resist falling for such distortions. 'We do not deny the humanitarian need in Gaza," he said, 'but we ask the world not to fall for Hamas' lies. Condemn Hamas and tell them: You want to move forward? Release the hostages."He emphasized that Israel has drastically increased its humanitarian aid efforts, saying, 'In the last week alone, we've brought in 30,000 tons of aid — 30 tons by air yesterday alone. The UN has almost 800 trucks they could distribute — and failed to do so. So a lot could have been done."A special report by The Press Service of Israel on Thursday found that according to the UN's own numbers, a staggering 85% of the aid entering the Gaza Strip by truck since May 19 has been stolen. The investigation found that a combination of black market profiteers and inflation have made much of the aid in Gaza markets unaffordable for most sources inside Gaza told TPS-IL that much of the food in the markets originated from international aid for months — including American shipments — but is resold at inflated prices, sometimes 300%. Basic staples like flour and rice, originally meant for free distribution, are reportedly diverted to private Palestinian in Gaza City told TPS-IL, 'The flour — when it enters Gaza, they steal it. And now they're going to raise the price from 30 to 60 shekels [$8.80 to $17.70]. It's unbelievable."Professor Eytan Gilboa an expert in international relations and media at Reichman University in Herzliya, told TPS-IL, 'There is some hunger in Gaza, and it exists only in places Hamas is pursuing it, not in other areas."In 2024, experts told TPS-IL that two Gaza-based Palestinian freelance photojournalists comitted war crimes by entering Israel during Hamas's October 7 a Jerusalem-based media watchdog, found that freelance photographers Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa and Ashraf Amra entered Israel to photograph the attacks. They then returned to Khan Yunis and went on Amra's Instagram Live account and excitedly shared a video of a mob pulling an Israeli soldier out of a tank, urging Palestinians to join the attack. Mostafa's photos were published by Reuters while Amra's were credited to 'Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images."Approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 50 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead. (ANI/TPS)
