On Sunday, newly appointed Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said that Pm Modi will “exchange perspectives” on the “Ukraine issue” and strengthen bilateral partnerships during his three-day, three-nation visit to Europe. PM Modi's foreign visit includes about two dozen engagements across approximately 65 hours, official sources said. He will hold meetings, bilateral as well as multilateral, with world leaders from seven countries besides interacting with about 50 global business leaders.
India & Europe
Modi’s visit signifies the importance attached to India’s ties with Europe. For the past few years, Europeans have always felt that — as a whole — the Modi government gives more thrust to other strategic partners like the US, Japan and even Australia and the UAE, than Europe.
Germany
Germany is one of India’s most important partners in Europe, with deep bilateral relations, and also because of its key role in the European Union. India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Federal Republic of Germany after WWII. India and Germany have a ‘Strategic Partnership’ since May 2000, and it has been strengthened with the launch of the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) in 2011 at the level of heads of government. India is among a select group of countries with which Germany has such a dialogue mechanism. During Modi’s visit, the 6th IGC will take place, postponed from last year due to the pandemic.
Denmark
Bilateral relations were elevated to the level of a “Green Strategic Partnership” during the Virtual Summit held in September 2020 between Modi and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen. Frederiksen was in India on a state visit from October 9 to 11, 2021, the first visit by a Head of Government following the pandemic.
France
The visit to France has been planned after President Emmanuel Macron was re-elected in a tough election. India and France have traditionally had close relations. In 1998, the two entered into a Strategic Partnership, with defence & security cooperation, space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation being its pillars. India and France also have a robust economic partnership, and are increasingly engaged in new areas of cooperation.
Asserting that India's role in damaging the climate is negligible, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Indians have had no role in harming the planet and the need of the hour is to promote 'lifestyle for environment'.
Addressing the Indian community settled in Denmark during his visit to the Nordic nation, Modi also asked each one of them to convince at least their five non-Indian friends to visit India.
"The mindset of use and throw is negative for the planet. It is necessary to get out of consumption-oriented approach and the need of the hour is to promote 'LIFE — Lifestyle for Environment'. India's role in damaging the climate is negligible; Indians have had no role in damaging the planet," Modi said.
During his interaction with members of the Indian community in Denmark, PM Narendra Modi shared a lighter moment with the diaspora as he tried his hand at dhol.
India and Denmark on Tuesday agreed to further strengthen the Green Strategic Partnership with a focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy and wastewater management.
"During our discussions, we reviewed the joint work plan for the green strategic partnership. I am happy that significant progress has been made in various fields, especially in the areas of renewable energy, health, ports, shipping, circular economy and water management," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told reporters here after talks with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen. (PTI)
Speaking on the importance of poverty alleviation, PM Narendra Modi said in his address to the Indian community in Denmark: "When India pulls its citizens out of poverty, the poverty across the world goes down. When poor in India are given several facilities like housing, sanitation, clean drinking water, free health care & financial inclusion, it gives a new trust to several countries of the world."
He also welcomed the Danes to India to work with Indians on finding answers to problems of the planet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of India's huge Covid-19 vaccination programme, poverty alleviation and the importance of taking care of the plant in his speech to the Indian community in Denmark.
"Imagine, if we wouldn't have been able to take vaccination to every family in India, what would've been its impact on the world. Had India not worked on made in India & effective vaccines, not had a large scale production, what would've been the situation in several countries," said the PM.
Addressing the Indian community in Denmark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday that whatever India is achieving today, it is the achievement of about one-fifth of humanity. "When I meet world leaders, they proudly tell me about achievements of the Indian community settled in their countries," he added.
After talks with the Danish Prime Minister, PM Narendra Modi is set to address a community programme in Copenhagen.
Underlining that she had discussed the war in Ukraine with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the “consequences of the horrible crimes committed against civilians”, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday she “hoped” that “India will influence Russia” to end the war. This is one of the clearest expectations enunciated and articulated by any European leader in the last two months since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
The Prime Ministers will meet again Wednesday for the India-Nordic summit which will include Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland. This will be the second such summit after the first in 2018.
Frederiksen said, “We share many values. We are two democratic nations. We both believe in a rule-based international system. And in times as these, we need to build an even stronger bridge between us as close partners. We, of course, also discussed the war in Ukraine.” (Read more)
In a public address in Denmark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that if looking at India’s reforms and investment opportunities, those who don’t invest in India will have to experience FOMO or 'fear of missing out'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on an official visit to Denmark was greeted with an Indian national flag and enthusiastic members of the diaspora on Tuesday, said the PM's Office on Twitter.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Denmark would like to see India use its influence with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to put an end to the war in Ukraine.
"Thank you @Narendramodi for fruitful discussions on advancing our #GreenStrategicPartnership. Accelerating the green energy transition is critical for our climate and our security. Also talked about the war in Ukraine. Made DK and EU’s position clear, and that we would like to see India use its influence with Putin," Frederiksen said in a tweet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen and was given an official tour of Marienborg, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Denmark, when they arrived in Copenhagen for talks.
Frederiksen gave a tour of her official residence to Modi and showed the painting he gifted her during her last India visit. It is a Pattachitra painting from Odisha. Pattachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms of Odisha. It is the state's traditional art form.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday that India has appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. He made the statement at a press conference following his arrival in Denmark as a part of the second leg of his three-nation Europe trip.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Denmark on Day Two of his three-day Europe visit, is addressing a joint press conference with his Danish counterpart. Follow along here.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to France, French defence major Naval Group has announced that it is unable to participate in the P-75 India (P-75I) project under which six conventional submarines are to be built in India for the Indian Navy.
The group, one of the five shortlisted international players for the Rs 43,000-crore project, said it cannot meet conditions of the Request for Proposal (RFP) and will, therefore, not continue with its bid.
The project is the largest under the new strategic partnership model which will see an international Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partner with an Indian company to manufacture submarines in India, and share the technology. (Read more)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen hold a conversation at the latter's residence in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen received PM Narendra Modi at the Copenhagen airport.
'Landed in Copenhagen. I am very grateful to PM Frederiksen for the warm welcome. This visit will go a long way in further cementing India-Denmark ties,' Modi tweeted after landing in Copenhagen.
PM Modi also shared his appreciation for the Danish PM's gesture in a tweet in Danish.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived in Denmark on the second leg of his three-nation Europe trip during which he will hold talks with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen and attend the 2nd India-Nordic Summit.
Modi arrived in Copenhagen from Germany where he held detailed bilateral discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and co-chaired the India-Germany inter-governmental consultations. (PTI)
On his way to Denmark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a light moment with a child at the Berlin Airport.
For the second leg of his Europe visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from Berlin to Copenhagen, Denmark on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Modi Tuesday tweeted images from his visit to Germany, thanking the government for their hospitality.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to travel to Denmark today (May 3), he tweeted that his visit to Germany was “productive”. Thanking the German government for their hospitality, the PM stated, “The talks with (Olaf) Scholz were extensive and so were the Inter-Governmental Consultations. I got a great opportunity to interact with business and Indian community leaders.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Denmark will also take part in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway where we will take stock of our cooperation since the First India-Nordic Summit in 2018.
The Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region, a statement by the PMO said.
Prime Minister Modi will be travelling from Berlin to Copenhagen today. He will hold talks with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen and meet Queen Margrethe II. He will also attend an India-Denmark Business Forum and address the Indian diaspora.
Tune in to our podcast '3 things', where Shubhajit Roy joins host Snigdha Sharma to discuss the significance of PM Modi’s three-day visit to Europe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-nation Europe tour will set the stage for India’s wider engagement with the continent in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After the Second World War, this is the first time that Europe is witnessing conflict close to home.
Europe’s economic powerhouse Germany, which is PM Modi’s first port of call, had turned pacifist to the point of not wanting a military in penance for Nazi excesses during the war. It has now made a huge political and strategic choice to support Ukraine in its defence against Russia with weapons, also deciding to spend more money to beef up its own defences. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, an anti-war Social Democrat, finds himself leading the country through this complex time in which the nation has decided to make economic sacrifices by agreeing to the costly proposition of cutting energy dependence on Moscow, even though his first instinct was to resist US pressure to join the anti-Russia coalition. For Delhi, too, Putin’s decision has been problematic for its long-standing bilateral ties with Moscow. Read more
Where does India’s national interest lie on the Ukrainian question? The answer should be a no-brainer. It must lie on the side of peace, with the victim, in this case Ukraine, and to ensure that the war is ended as expeditiously as possible, notwithstanding our reliance on Russia — spares for conventional weaponry, joint production of delivery systems for strategic and tactical assets, past diplomatic and military favours extended, synergy with regard to energy exploration, to name but a few.
What does India stand to gain by isolating Europe, a continent of almost 750 million people with whom it shares civilisational values and which is also an important trading partner? India-EU trade alone stands at 62.8 billion Euros. Europe is totally opposed to the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Read more
With the horrific war in Ukraine showing no signs of ending, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Berlin, Copenhagen, and Paris this week could give us a glimpse of India’s post-Russian strategic future in Europe. As Russia, isolated by unprecedented Western sanctions, deepens its alliance with China, Europe has begun to loom larger than ever before in India’s strategic calculus. Read C Raja Mohan's Opinion piece here
On Tuesday, PM Modi Modi will head to Denmark and meet Danish PM Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen.
He will also participate in the Second India-Nordic Summit with the prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Taking a jibe at previous governments for continuing with two Constitutions in one country — a reference to the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called them “tubelight” and mentioned that the situation was corrected after 70 years.
Addressing the Indian community in Berlin, Modi said, “Desh ek thhe, samvidhan do thhe…. Kyun itni der lagi. Purane zamane mein kehte thhe tubelight (It is one country, but there were two Constitutions…. Why did it take so long? Earlier, this was called tubelight).”
“Saat dashak ho gaye ek desh, ek samvidhan lagu karte karte. Ab laagu hua hai doston (it has taken seven decades to have a single Constitution for the entire country…it has been implemented now),” he said. Read more
Underlining that Russia has violated fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter by attacking Ukraine and its civilian population, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Monday that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed that “borders should not be changed through the use of violence” and “inviolability as well as the sovereignty of nations has to be universally accepted”.
In the joint statement issued after the talks, a line stood out: “Germany reiterated its strong condemnation of the unlawful and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine by Russian Forces.”
A unilateral statement, which expresses one country’s views, in the joint statement is unusual and reflects the divergence in views of the two countries. But there were enough lines to show the convergence. "Germany and India expressed their serious concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. They unequivocally condemned civilian deaths in Ukraine," it said. Read more
Following his talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister Modi, who did not name Russia in his statement, said “there will be no winning party in this war, everyone will suffer”.
“Recent geopolitical events also showed how fragile world peace and stability is, and how interconnected all countries are. From the very beginning of the Ukrainian crisis, we called for an immediate ceasefire, insisting that dialogue is the only way to resolve the dispute. We believe that there will be no winning party in this war, everyone will suffer. That is why we are in favour of peace,” Modi said.
“Oil prices are skyrocketing due to the turmoil triggered by the Ukraine conflict; there is also shortage of food grains and fertilizers in the world. This has burdened every family in the world, but its impact on developing and poor countries will be even more serious. India is deeply concerned by the humanitarian impact of this conflict. We have sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine on our behalf. We are also trying to help other friendly countries through food exports, oil supplies and economic assistance,” he said. Read more
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to France, French defence major Naval Group has announced that it is unable to participate in the P-75 India (P-75I) project under which six conventional submarines are to be built in India for the Indian Navy.
The group, one of the five shortlisted international players for the Rs 43,000-crore project, said it cannot meet conditions of the Request for Proposal (RFP) and will, therefore, not continue with its bid.
The project is the largest under the new strategic partnership model which will see an international Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partner with an Indian company to manufacture submarines in India, and share the technology. Read more
"Minimum government, maximum governance! There should not be the absence of government wherever it is needed but it should also not be wherever it is not needed," PM Modi says.
While adressing the Indian community in Germany, Modi says, "Indian voters ended political instability of 3 decades with the press of a button." "Aspiration for positive change and quick development were reasons why Indians elected a govt with full majority after 30 years in 2014," PTI quoted Modi as saying.
Narendra Modi interacts with the Indian community in Berlin.
PM Modi, German Chancellor Scholz calls for peace in Ukraine. Here are a few snaps. See more here
In their first meeting in Berlin since German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assumed office in December last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s discussions with the German leader covered “key areas of bilateral cooperation under the overall strategic partnership as well as regional and global developments,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Monday. Read more
The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that India-Germany partnership could serve as an example of success in a complex world. He also invited German participation in India's Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign.
"I repeat my appeal to Vladimir Putin - end this senseless killing, withdraw your troops from Ukraine," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in Berlin after meeting with PM Modi
"Through its attack on Ukraine, Russia has violated fundamental principles of international law. The war & the brutal attacks against civilian population in Ukraine show how unrestrained Russia has been in violating the fundamental principles of the UN Charter," German Chancellor Scholz said.
"Delighted that the first Inter-Governmental Consultations of this Govt took place with Indian Govt. To me it's a sign of the spl quality of our relationship...I invited you as our guest to G7 Summit end of June & we look forward to welcoming you back to Germany," Chancellor Scholz said.
"I am happy that my first foreign visit of 2022 is happening in Germany. and my first telephonic conversation with any foreign leader happened with my friend Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Holding of the IGC shows how much importance we place in our strategic ties," said PM Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Germany on the first leg of his visit to three European nations on Monday and met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. After his meet, he said that among democratic nations, India, Germany share several common values and the holding of the Inter Governmental Consultations shows how much importance the two countries place in their strategic ties. Talking about the crisis in Ukraine, he said, “No country can emerge victorious in Ukraine conflict. We are for peace, appeal to end the war.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sign the green & sustainable energy partnership in Berlin.
Ahead of the Inter-Governmental Consultation between India and Germany, Modi held bilateral talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
The Inter-Governmental Consultation between India and Germany illustrate the special nature of this friendship.
Prime Minister Narendra met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
"A flavour of India at the Brandenburg Gate! Have a look…," PMO tweets with a video of celebration with a saffron flag in Berlin.
PMO India tweeted: "The colours and diversity of India are on display at Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate."
PM Narendra Modi in all praises for a young Indian-origin boy as he sings a patriotic song on his arrival in Berlin, Germany. "Doesn’t my young friend sing well!" the Pm said in his Facebook post.
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi will “exchange perspectives” on the “Ukraine issue” and strengthen bilateral partnerships during his three-day, three-nation visit to Europe, newly appointed Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Sunday.
In his departure statement on Sunday, Modi did not mention the Russia-Ukraine conflict directly. “My visit to Europe comes at a time when the region faces many challenges and choices. Through my engagements, I intend to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with our European partners, who are important companions in India’s quest for peace and prosperity,” he said.
" We were excited to get glimpse of PM Modi. We came to Berlin after driving 400kms distance. He respectfully greeted each one of us from Indian diaspora. Further, we're looking forward to attending the PM's address to the diaspora," said Gaurang Kuteja, member of Indian community in Germany.
In Denmark, PM Modi will meet Danish PM Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen —and also participate in the Second India-Nordic Summit with the prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway on Tuesday. On the way back on Wednesday, Modi will make a brief stopover in Paris for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. His first foreign trip this year comes at a time when a war in the heart of Europe has upended seven decades of global order.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached Germany today morning, will also be travelling to Denmark and France between May 2 and 4. His first foreign trip this year comes at a time when a war in the heart of Europe has upended seven decades of global order.
Hello and welcome to our blog on PM Modi's Europe visit, The Prime Minister has arrived in Germany on the first leg of his visit to three European nations. He will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and co-chair 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations in Berlin today.Follow to get all the latest updates here.