My time as the German Ambassador to India began in 2022, but some of you might know that this was not my first posting on the subcontinent. Between 2007 and 2010, I served as Head of the Political Section at the German Embassy in Delhi. So in some ways, I had an idea of what was expected of me. But can one really prepare for India? I don’t think so — and that, I suspect, is exactly what makes this country so fascinating.
India has so many facets, and is so large, so dense, and so intense that discovering it is a never-ending story. The surprises simply keep coming. And that may explain a trait that I encounter here often and admire a great deal: Indians have an unshakable optimism, and a firm sense of their own agency in the face of obstacles. I think that is why Indians do so well abroad, including in Germany. In India, you cannot plan things out as meticulously as many Germans would like, so you learn to be resourceful, flexible, and inventive. But make no mistake — the improvisational talent of many Indians usually goes hand in hand with a masterplan, a strategy for the long run.In 2022, I came back to India after almost 12 years. During these years, the country changed considerably. The infrastructure has improved, which has made discovering the different corners of India far easier. The progress in digital infrastructure is equally impressive — an area where Germany could genuinely learn a thing or two from India. The relationship between India and Germany has also undergone fundamental change. Defence and military cooperation are much deeper now. With the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), which began in 2011, we have a comprehensive coordination mechanism that creates a great many connections between ministries, and closer personal ties between the political and administrative leadership of our countries.
