NEW DELHI: The current global challenges across the spectrum cannot be solved without India and therefore Delhi plays a critical role in Germany’s newly released Indo-Pacific strategy that aims at diversifying supply chains without being dependent on just one source, German Ambassador to India Walter Lindner said recently. 

 

“Germany has a policy for Africa and policy for Latin America. However, we did not have any policy for Indo-Pacific region as a whole. This region houses world's 33 mega cities, a young and dynamic population and sea lanes of communication that are responsible for a significant part of the global trade. It was time that Berlin adopted a strategy for the region,” Lindner said days after Berlin released its Indo-Pacific strategy. 

 

“The Covid situation made it clear that supply chains cannot be dominated by anyone. There must be a diversification of supply chains. Germany favours diversification of supply chains and India plays a critical role in that. No global challenges in today’s world can be solved without India’s participation,” noted Lindner, who had in the past served as the Foreign Secretary. 

 

The Indo-Pacific strategy was released last week by German Foreign Ministry. Berlin’s strategy also suggested opening dialogue with institutions where India plays a key role -- Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation and Indian Ocean Rim Association -- in the areas of business and maritime safety, as well as disaster risk management.