German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently paid an official visit to New Delhi, where she discussed Indo-German differences over U.N. Security Council reform, among other issues, with Indian Prime Minster Manmohan Singh. In an email interview, Rajendra K. Jain, professor of European studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, discussed India-Germany relations.
WPR: What is the recent history of Germany-India relations?
Rajendra K. Jain: After several decades of "benign neglect" and mutual indifference, Indo-German relations have substantially improved and deepened in the past decade in nearly all fields, including a significant increase in high-level bilateral visits. A strategic partnership was established in 2001. Attempts have been made in recent years to revitalize the strategic partnership by various means, including the holding of joint military exercises and, in May, the first-ever intergovernmental consultations with India -- the first country in Asia, besides Israel, to hold such talks with Germany.