Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘three-day, three-nation’ tour to Europe, which is starting on Monday, comes at a time when the region is facing numerous challenges due to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The prime minister – who will depart for his visit to Germany, Denmark and France on Sunday night – did not directly refer to the Ukraine conflict in his departure statement but said, “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.”
At a media briefing, newly appointed foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, too, said Prime Minister Modi will “exchange perspectives” on the Ukraine issue. He said energy security will be among key areas of discussion during bilateral meetings with the European leaders.
Kwatra further said energy security has assumed greater significance in the backdrop of current geopolitical developments. There has been a wider debate and discussion in Europe over ending dependence on its reliance on Russian energy in view of its attack on Ukraine.
About the conflict in Ukraine, he said India had always maintained that there should be cessation of hostilities and the crisis should be resolved through dialogue. He also underlined the “context, clarity, importance and positive dimension” of India’s position on Ukraine and said there should not be any doubt about it.
PM Modi is making his first trip abroad this year amid the Ukraine crisis. On this, Kwatra said, “Our position on Ukraine has been clear. First, there should be a cessation of hostilities; second, a solution must be found out through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said, adding this view had been conveyed very clearly to various countries.
The foreign secretary said apart from energy security and Ukraine perspectives, bilateral talks will also focus on trade and investment, clean energy, digital technology and defence. He talked about the “changing elements” of energy security, its impact on developing countries like India, the challenges in the sector and the mitigation of the challenges. “I am sure this would constitute one of the elements in the overall discussions. But naturally one single item would not define what the structure of the discussions would be,” he added.
70 years of India-Germany ties
In Germany, Modi and Chancellor Olaf Scholz will co-chair the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) on Monday. It will be followed by a high-level roundtable where the two leaders will interact with the top CEOs of both countries.
“The meeting between the two leaders would provide an excellent platform not only to strengthen the existing multi-faceted bilateral partnership but to also shape and develop an ambitious agenda of cooperation for months and years ahead including in the field of the development partnership, green agenda, trade and investment linkages,” Kwatra said.
Modi is also scheduled to interact with the Indian diaspora in Germany. In fact, India’s ambassador to Germany said this will be a “landmark visit” for the PM as it marks 70 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
“PM’s visit to Berlin on 2-3 May for India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations is landmark visit. This year we not only celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav but also commemorate 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India-Germany,” said the ambassador.
Scholz is scheduled to host Modi at a private dinner as well.
Second India-Nordic summit
From Germany, Modi will travel to Copenhagen at the invitation of the Danish PM Mette Frederiksen. He will also take part in the second India-Nordic summit being hosted by the country.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a number of other senior union ministers are expected to accompany Modi to Germany as the format of the IGC mandates direct talks between senior ministers from the two sides on cooperation in specific areas. In Denmark, Modi is scheduled to hold separate bilateral talks with leaders of Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland.
“The prime minister’s first visit in 2022 factors an ambitious and substantial agenda packed into an intense schedule… The principal purpose of the visit is for India to continue to strengthen its multi-dimensional multi-faceted partnerships with key countries of Europe,” the foreign secretary said.
Brief stopover for Re-elected Macron
On May 4, Modi will have a brief stopover in Paris on his return journey where he will hold extensive talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was re-elected to the top post last week. “Modi’s visit to France will provide an opportunity to carry forward high-level engagement between the two countries following the French presidential election,” Kwatra said, adding, “both countries have continuously nurtured and delivered on the ambition of their strategic partnership.”
The foreign secretary also said it will not be correct for him to comment on the position of each of these countries on the Ukraine issue. Reflecting the EU’s tough approach in dealing with the Russian aggression, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the Raisina Dialogue on Monday that Europe will make sure that Moscow’s “unprovoked and unjustified” aggression against Ukraine will be a “strategic failure.
India has not yet publicly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine and has been calling for the resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
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