Bangkok Defense Minister Boris Pistorius impressed during his visit to India: “His passion for yoga is commendable,” said his Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Singh wrote on Twitter after meeting with SPD politicians.
Pistorius is in New Delhi not to impress with body art, but for military technology: He is pushing for multibillion-dollar deals with the German defense industry in the world’s most populous country.
The federal government also hopes that the possible cooperation will be an important step in helping India wean itself off its military dependence on Russia.
Specifically, it is about six submarines with conventional diesel-electric propulsion, for which the Indian Navy hopes to spend about 5 billion euros. They will be produced in partnership with one of two Indian companies that have been selected.
Of the five companies initially shortlisted by the Indian government, only two are now considered promising foreign technology partners: South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Engineering, and Kiel-based German manufacturer ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
“It will be a big order for German industry,” Pistorius said in an interview with ARD at the start of his visit. India also benefits from the deal and strategic partnership, the minister added.
He himself does not have any contracts in this regard – these contracts are not signed between governments, but directly with the companies involved. “I’m here for companionship and support,” Pistorius said.
Submarine memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday
According to Handelsblatt, TKMS plans to sign a letter of intent with Mumbai-based Indian shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders on Wednesday in the presence of Pistorius. This should indicate that if the government awards the contracts to the two companies, they will jointly produce the submarines India needs. TKMS declined to comment on the plans. Pistorius talked about a possible flagship project.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders is one of two local companies shortlisted by the Indian Ministry of Defense for the submarine program. The second manufacturer on the shortlist is L&T Shipbuilding, which must now find another international partner.
Germany wants to help India wean itself off its dependence on Russian armaments.
(Photo: dpa)
Spanish manufacturer Navantia has also expressed interest in the project – according to Indian media reports, however, it does not meet all the technical requirements India has for a future partner.
France’s Naval Group, also on the government’s shortlist, has withdrawn. Russian manufacturer Rosoboronexport is also reportedly no longer involved in the project.
India is the world’s largest arms importer — and Russia has been its most important supplier for decades. Over the past five years, Russian manufacturers have had a 45 percent market share in the country, according to the Sipri Institute.
India’s reliance on Russian weapons is seen as threatened by its neighbors China and Pakistan, and is seen as a major reason why the New Delhi government has so far not explicitly condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
US is also expanding military cooperation with India
Western countries that see India as a strategic partner in Asia are now trying to position themselves as an alternative military partner. Prior to Pistorius, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in New Delhi on Monday.
>> Read here: India-Russia friendship threatens West’s Asia strategy
During the visit, the two countries agreed on a roadmap to strengthen cooperation in the defense industry. A day later, Germany’s defense minister praised India’s “very sustained” efforts to “significantly and rapidly reduce” its arms dependence on Russia.
Pistorius promised radical simplification to the country when buying weapons and equipment from Germany: “India is an important, not to mention the most important strategic partner for Europe and Germany,” he said. The state must be treated accordingly. In the future it may be possible to treat India like Australia and Japan – the two countries can buy from German arms companies without complex approval procedures.
The Indian shipyard will sign the contract with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
(Photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire)
The federal government has also publicly expressed its support for greater involvement of German arms companies in Indian business – but these companies have not received any positive help.
Pistorius: We must accept India’s proximity to Russia
Pistorius dismisses India’s failure to clearly side with the West over the Ukraine war and insisting on its strategic partnership with Russia as obstacles.
>> Read here: India – Russian oil business is doing better than ever
Asked about India’s wide-ranging oil deal with Russia, Pistorius said: “Of course, that’s not entirely true.” But as partners, you can’t blame each other for everything that doesn’t go your way. “The dependency affecting behavior is obvious, and we have to address it,” he said.
The minister was also self-critical about India’s historical closeness to Russia: “Maybe we have to admit we weren’t close enough in the past.”
India was Pistorius’ third and final stop on his Asia tour, after he was in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference and in Jakarta to visit Indonesian Foreign Minister Prabowo Subian support.
There, too, he promoted German armaments: “We discussed the possibility of starting a submarine business,” he said. Prabowo, who is running for Indonesia’s president in next year’s election, called the talks “very productive”.
Collaboration: Martin Murphy
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