Geeta Mohan: German Member of Parliament (MP) Tilman Kuban has announced that Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit India in February with the aim of significantly increasing overall cooperation in the fields of trade, defense, clean energy and climate change. confirmed.
It will be Scholz’s first visit to India after taking office as German Chancellor in December 2021, following Angela Merkel’s historic 16-year tenure at the top post.
In December, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited India for two days, ostensibly to prepare for Scholz’s long-awaited trip.
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Kuban will visit New Delhi and Hyderabad as part of a 5-person MP-MLA delegation trip organized by the KAS India Office on the theme of trade and digitalisation.
The delegation’s visit will primarily focus on strengthening trade ties with India and a free trade agreement with the European Union. A German parliamentarian, citing Prime Minister Modi’s pitch for his Make in India, said: We have many employees in India. they are talented. ”
Regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine, Kuban added: “This is just a military war against Ukraine, an energy war against Europe and a hunger war against the world.”
G-20 Presidency
Regarding India’s G20 presidency, he said: Prime Minister Modi stayed in Germany last year and will visit India in February this year. There are many good cooperations, partnerships and friendships between our two countries. ”
“Your government has put on a huge list of controversial topics such as digital infrastructure and global health,” he said.
The Russo-Ukrainian War and Germany
In response to a question about the Russian-Ukrainian war and Germany sending tanks, he said: It never occurred to me that war would break out in Europe. I have visited Ukraine many times and have friends there. I am thinking about how to support them. They are fighting our values, democracy and dictator Vladimir Putin. ”
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Regarding German support, he said: We know that the Russians have a huge army and many soldiers. That’s why we need to help Ukraine as much as we can. We are sending tanks and are currently discussing sending aircraft. ”
They didn’t want a conflict between NATO and Russia, so there were checks and balances, he said. “I want to help Ukraine. Putin has bigger plans beyond Ukraine. He has his sights set on the Baltics, Poland and beyond,” he added.
On Ukraine’s NATO membership, he said: “First of all, we need to end this war. We know that civilians, soldiers and my friends are dying every day in this conflict. That is why we need to end this conflict, and then show them the way to the European Union, and we are working to make Ukraine a free and independent European country. ”
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Ultimately, he added, Ukrainians must decide where they want to go.
He said, promising negotiations to end the war. First of all, it is necessary to put pressure on Russia. At first everyone thought the war would be over for him in a few days. The Russian army then lost the Battle of Kyiv and later Kherson. ”
On food and energy security, he said: A transformation of the energy sector is needed. We need to fund more renewable energy. We have a good working relationship with India. There is about $10 billion in hydrogen projects between the EU and India. ”
On Turkey’s blocking of Sweden’s NATO membership, he said: I don’t think it’s incompatible. we will fix it. ”
India EU Free Trade Agreement
Revealing the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and ‘Make in India’, he said: I’m trying to emphasize that our system is worth fighting for. On trade issues, we need to be stronger. ”
He said there is much to be discussed and done on FTAs.
“India is trying to send agricultural products, which puts pressure on itself in our market. “I will,” he said.
On UN reform, he said: We are discussing it in Germany and India is discussing it here. Let’s put pressure together. We are both strong nations and I believe India and Germany need to be at the negotiating table. ”
On security and terrorism, he said, “As global democracies, we must unite. Terrorists are fighting our system, but others around the world are also fighting our system.” We need to work with friends and like-minded partners.”
