FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) – “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” on Merz in India:
“Where a chancellor goes first may play a symbolic role, but it doesn’t change the realities of world politics. (.) But without a doubt, Germany needs new partners in Asia, and India has been overlooked for far too long. (.) The fact that Merz heard from his host, Prime Minister Modi, that his country cannot do without Russian oil is coming [.] not surprising. Not even Trump’s tariffs have completely dried up Putin’s source of income. Since independence, India has pursued a pragmatic and independent course in foreign policy. The fact that Merz says he doesn’t want to appear “with a raised index finger” is not only an acknowledgment of reality, but also an overdue adjustment to the German choice of words that used to be so lecture-like.”/yyzz/DP/nas