Ukraine war: Germany woos India with G7 invite in bid to isolate Russia

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosted PM Narendra Modi in Berlin, saying he was ready to continue – and expand – their close cooperation on global issues

India has not imposed sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine war and is instead boosting energy imports. It is also a significant buyer of Russian weapons

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leave after a press statement at the Chancellery in Berlin on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 1:36am, 3 May 2022Updated: 2:13am, 3 May 2022

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a Group of Seven leaders’ summit next month as a special guest, part of an effort to forge a broader international alliance against Russia.

Germany – which currently holds the rotating G7 presidency – will also welcome the leaders of Indonesia, South Africa and Senegal to the gathering in the Bavarian Alps June 26 to June 28, Scholz’s chief spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said on Monday at a news conference in Berlin.

Scholz hosted Modi for talks in Berlin on Monday and they presided over a joint German-Indian cabinet meeting before signing a declaration on cooperation in “Green and Sustainable Development” and making statements to reporters.

“Hopefully we’ll very soon be able to welcome you to Germany again,” Scholz said. “We are ready to continue close cooperation on global issues with India, and – this is the key – to expand it,” he added. Modi did not immediately confirm he would attend the G7, and did not mention the invitation in his statement.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sits opposite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before Indo-German governmental consultations at the Chancellery in Berlin on Monday. Photo: AFP

The two leaders, who did not take questions, also announced that Germany had pledged as much as €10 billion (US$10.5 billion) in aid to help India achieve its sustainable development goals and promote German-Indian research and development.