Toward Europe

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited India for the third time since 2023.
• The visits focused on innovation, technology, skilling, mobility, green energy cooperation, and improving trade.
• Both leaders attended the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, a first for Indian businesses.
• Spain, India’s 16th largest investor, is increasingly seen as a technology and engineering partner.
• The visit highlighted the inauguration of an Airbus-Tata private sector plant for the Indian Air Force.
• The visits followed Modi’s Russia visit for the BRICS summit and his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
• India expressed concerns over the Ukraine conflict and the need for lasting peace in joint statements with Germany and Spain.
• Spain’s statement did not name Hamas and emphasized the need to protect civilians and comply with international law.
• India emphasizes the need for continued engagement with European countries, including the European Union, despite differences on geopolitical issues.