BERLIN, April 22 — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Wednesday that India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has kept a balanced diplomatic stance and could potentially play a larger role in resolving international conflicts, including the crisis in West Asia. Speaking at an Indian community event at the Indian Embassy in Berlin, Singh emphasized that while India has worked for peace, success often depends on timing and global circumstances.
Singh praised Indian diplomacy for maintaining open channels with multiple parties and cited the example of Indian ships continuing to transit the Strait of Hormuz when others could not. He suggested this reflected India’s neutral, even-handed approach, noting that neither the United States nor Iran views India as an adversary.
“We have tried, but everything has its time. It is possible that tomorrow India may step in and succeed,” Singh said, adding that Prime Minister Modi has urged all sides to end hostilities and has engaged with world leaders to seek peaceful solutions. He pointed to Modi’s meetings with leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, the president of Ukraine and former U.S. President Donald Trump as instances where the prime minister raised the need for dialogue and resolution.
Singh also noted that this was his first official visit to Germany, made at the invitation of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, and described the deepening India-Germany relationship as an achievement. He observed that 2026 will mark 75 years of formal diplomatic ties between the two democracies and that their partnership rests on shared democratic values.
On economic cooperation, Singh said bilateral relations have expanded across sectors. He described Germany as India’s largest trading partner in Europe and noted that more than 2,000 German companies operate in India, contributing to industrial growth and the Make in India initiative. He added that Indian firms are increasingly establishing a presence in Germany as well.
Singh’s remarks underline India’s preference for measured diplomacy and its willingness to engage with multiple parties, leaving open the possibility of a future, more active role in facilitating peace where global conditions allow.
