Politics

Indian PM Modi to embark on Europe trip amid Ukraine war

New Delhi, Apr 17 (EFE).- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Germany, Denmark, and France next week amid tensions in Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A foreign ministry statement said that Modi would hold bilateral talks on Monday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on the first leg of his three-nation European trip.

The meeting will be Modi’s first with Scholz, who assumed office in December 2021.

The two leaders will co-chair the sixth edition of the biennial India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).

Last year, the two nations commemorated 70 years of diplomatic relations.

They have been strategic partners since 2000.

“The visit will be an opportunity to enhance and intensify cooperation in a broad range of areas and for the two governments to exchange views on regional and global matters of mutual interest,” the statement said.

Modi will then travel to Copenhagen on an official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

He will also participate in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit hosted by Denmark.

Modi will also call on Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

India and Denmark last year agreed on a five-year action plan to take forward their unique “green strategic partnership.”

The cooperation aims to consolidate green and low carbon growth and focuses on groundwater conservation, renewable energy, climate action, circular economy, sustainable smart cities, food, agriculture, health, and life science.

The partnership was the first of its kind arrangement between India and Denmark.

“The visit would provide both sides an opportunity to review its progress, as well as examine ways to further expand our multifaceted cooperation,” the statement said.

During the 2nd India-Nordic Summit, Modi will also interact with Prime Ministers Katrín Jakobsdóttir of Iceland, Jonas Gahr Store of Norway, Magdalena Andersson of Sweden, and Sanna Marin of Finland.

The statement said the summit would focus on post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario, and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region.

The first India-Nordic summit took place in Stockholm in 2018.

Upon his return journey on Wednesday, Modi will briefly stop in Paris and meet re-elected President Emmanuel Macron.

India and France are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year, and “the meeting between the two leaders will set a more ambitious agenda of the strategic partnership,” the statement said.

The trip assumes significance since the United States and its western allies have been trying to convince India to speak against Russia, its top military equipment supplier, over its invasion of Ukraine.

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