The visit marks the second high level engagement between India and the United Nations in recent months..reports Asian Lite News
Annalena Baerbock will visit India next week on an official trip at the invitation of the Indian government, according to the spokesperson for the President of the United Nations General Assembly.
Spokesperson La Niece Collins said on Thursday that Baerbock is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings with Indian officials during her visit. She will also meet members of the United Nations team in India led by Resident Coordinator Stefan Priesner.
The visit marks the second high level engagement between India and the United Nations in recent months following the trip by Antonio Guterres to New Delhi earlier this year to attend the AI Impact Summit.
Baerbock is no stranger to India, having visited the country several times during her tenure as Germany’s foreign minister. However, this will be her first visit to India since assuming office as President of the UN General Assembly.
During her first visit to India as German foreign minister in 2022, Baerbock highlighted India’s growing importance on the global stage and described the country as a major force in shaping the international order in the 21st century.
“Without a doubt, India will play a key role in shaping the international order of the 21st century, in the Indo Pacific and beyond,” she had said during the visit.
She also praised India’s economic and social progress, particularly its efforts to reduce poverty.
“That India has lifted 400 million people out of extreme poverty in 15 years shows that a pluralistic society, freedom and democracy are drivers of economic development, peace and stability,” she had said.
The Indo Pacific region featured prominently in discussions during that visit, reflecting growing cooperation between India and Germany on strategic and geopolitical issues.
Baerbock also signed a migration and mobility agreement with India aimed at facilitating the movement of skilled professionals and strengthening people to people ties between the two countries.
In 2024, she accompanied then German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during his visit to India for the seventh German Indian intergovernmental consultations held under the theme “Growing Together with Innovation, Mobility, and Sustainability”.
Germany remains an important partner for India on several international issues, including reform of the UN Security Council. Berlin is part of the G4 grouping alongside India, Brazil and Japan, which advocates for expanding the Security Council by adding new permanent members.
The four countries have consistently backed each other’s bid for permanent representation in a reformed Security Council.
Baerbock has also held several meetings with S. Jaishankar during his visits to Germany, as well as on the sidelines of international forums and G4 meetings at the United Nations.
After concluding her India visit, Baerbock is expected to travel to China as part of her broader diplomatic engagements in Asia.
