At the beginning of a three-day go to to India, German Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck urged New Delhi to sentence Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In an interview with DW’s New Delhi bureau chief, Amrita Cheema, Habeck mentioned, “you can’t stay neutral if there’s injustice.”

“There’s always an aggressor and one that is the victim, and if you say ‘I don’t distinguish between aggressor and victim,’ in a way, you don’t reflect the real situation,” he mentioned.

Habeck mentioned whereas he revered India’s personal “tradition and partnership with Russia,” the nation can’t stay impartial whereas the conflict is ongoing.

“I would be very glad, and it would even help in our relationship, if India at least finds clear language and says this is an aggression, it’s a one-sided aggression, it’s Putin’s war,” Habeck mentioned.

India has formally maintained a impartial place since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. However, New Delhi has not supported Western sanctions on Moscow, and continues to purchase fossil fuels from Russia. 

Germany trying to India because it ‘de-risks’ from China

Despite the friction over Ukraine, Habeck’s go to to India, together with a enterprise delegation, is a step towards increasing Germany’s economic ties in Asia away from China and to diversify vitality sources. 

“Closer cooperation especially in renewable energies and green hydrogen holds a lot of potential for both sides and can increase our resilience and economic security,” mentioned a Economy Ministry assertion launched forward of the journey. 

Habeck advised DW he was optimistic about collaboration with India on vitality points.

“We have to face it, global warming is a reality, and we have to stop it as soon as we can,” Habeck, who’s a member of Germany’s Green Party mentioned. “So renewable energy, energy efficiency, this is the issue of the day,” he added. 

Habeck advised DW that “due to Russia’s unprecedented aggression war on Ukraine, we learned a painful lesson that being dependent on only one country — in this case on energy — can be dangerous.”

On China, Habeck mentioned, “it’s okay to have a big partnership with China, India also has one, but being dependent on one [partner] is not so good. So, we are searching for new partners.”

Last week the German authorities revealed its first China strategy specializing in de-risking economically from China.  Germany is China’s largest European buying and selling associate.

Labor, free commerce and vitality on the agenda 

Habeck, who’s joined by a enterprise delegation, mentioned he’s additionally eager to deal with Germany’s shortage of skilled workers, which is a serious concern for German corporations.

“We have a lack of workforce in Germany, in India [there are] a lot of skilled, talented, well-educated people, you’re very welcome,” Habeck mentioned.

Germany final month handed immigration law reform designed to encourage extra individuals from outdoors the European Union to come back to Germany for work. German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil can be visiting India this week, aiming to recruit extra nurses amid a scarcity of care staff in Germany. 

Habeck additionally hoped for progress within the talks a couple of free commerce deal between the EU and India.

The EU and India have spent years making an attempt to hammer out a free commerce settlement. During his February go to to India, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his desire to accelerate these negotiations.

During the rest of his journey, Habeck is scheduled to attend a Group of 20 vitality ministers’ assembly in western India’s Goa state on Saturday.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn