Germany Says It Is Ready to Sign $8 Billion Deal for Six Submarines with India

Key facts

• German Ambassador to India Jasper Wieck said Germany is ready to sign an $8 billion deal with India for building six next-generation conventional submarines.
• Wieck stated that the documents have already been finalised and agreed to by the German side, with India needing to complete its internal processes, and Germany was ready to sign the agreement as early as the next day.
• Under the agreement, German defence contractor TKMS will supply advanced submarine design and technology transfer, partnering with India's MDL.
• Wieck described the global situation as an "era of unpredictability", saying Russia had "wrecked trust and peace" while the United States was "constantly changing the rules of the game".
• Wieck identified his three priorities as ambassador: the pending formal signing of the India-European Union FTA, labour migration, and defence cooperation.
• On India's purchase of Russian oil, Wieck said Germany understood the energy needs of India's 1.4 billion people but argued that reducing purchases would dent Moscow's ability to finance the war in Ukraine.