Germany, India Pledge Climate Cooperation

After meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Berlin on Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised €10 billion to help India reach its climate goals, but leaders adhered to its attitude toward the war with Ukraine.

In a statement to the media, Scholz emphasized the importance of cooperation between democracies and the common goals of each country, such as the fight against climate change.

However, his comments on Russia's invasion of Ukraine contrasted with Modi's comments, which demanded a ceasefire but resisted Western calls condemning the Kremlin's actions, and they described it as a special military operation. 

Germany is also trying to diversify its trade relations in Asia in order to reduce its reliance on China, which it has identified as a strategic rival.

Germany's trade with India, the world's second-most populous country with a population of nearly 1.4 billion, accounted for less than 10% of trade with China in 2021. A German government spokesperson said India is one of the host countries invited to Germany's G7 summit in June.