The German Chancellor’s recent visit to India, spearheaded by Friedrich Merz of the CDU, has drawn a nuanced defense from Sebastian Roloff, the SPD’s parliamentary group spokesperson for economic policy. Despite India’s ongoing, complex relationship with Russia, Roloff underscored the significance of the diplomatic engagement, asserting even a brief visit represents a “step in the right direction.
The deliberate choice to prioritize India over China for this visit highlights a conscious recalibration of Germany’s economic and geopolitical strategy. Roloff emphasized the growing importance of the Indian market, citing its size and rapid growth as crucial factors in reducing dependence on Chinese trade and investment. This move, however, does not occur without acknowledgement of the broader political landscape. Roloff conceded concerns regarding democratic backsliding within the BRICS nations, expressing a tempered optimism regarding India’s democratic standards.
A particularly contentious element of India-Russia relations has become a point of diplomatic friction. Roloff explicitly stated that Germany cannot dictate foreign policy conditions, particularly regarding ties with Russia. He rejected the notion that Germany could leverage prospective partnerships, such as the sale of submarines, to compel India to sever its relations with Moscow. Such demands, he argued, represent an ineffective and counterproductive approach to diplomacy.
Instead, Roloff advocates for a gradual, incremental strategy, acknowledging that forcing a dramatic shift in Indian foreign policy is unrealistic. “As a German Chancellor, you can raise these topics, but we cannot force a cut” he explained. He anticipates that influence, however limited, will only accrue through repeated, consistent engagement, even if that process generates political tensions within India and elsewhere. The approach signals a pragmatic, if somewhat cautious, acknowledgment of Germany’s constrained leverage in shaping India’s geopolitical choices.