The leaders of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Sweden will look at the details of green partnerships, dynamism and cooperation in the Arctic region. This is the first time in twenty years that an Indian Prime Minister has visited Denmark. The Nordic bloc is an important trading partner of India, with the value of trade transactions exceeding USD 5 billion in 2021.
The leaders of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Sweden will look at the details of green partnerships, dynamism and cooperation in the Arctic region. This is the first time in twenty years that an Indian Prime Minister has visited Denmark. The Nordic bloc is an important trading partner of India, with the value of trade transactions exceeding USD 5 billion in 2021.
Fernanda Melo Larsson, RFI correspondent in Copenhagen
According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Nordic countries are important partners for India in the areas of sustainability, renewable energy and technological innovation. Denmark was the first country in the world with which India signed a green cooperation agreement in 2020. Upon his arrival in Copenhagen this Tuesday (03), Narendra Modi expressed his welcome on the social network Twitter.
Modi tweeted, “I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Mette Fredriksson for the warm welcome to her. This visit will go a long way towards further strengthening India’s ties with Denmark.”
In addition to issues related to the environmental agenda, the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and India should also analyze the post-pandemic economic recovery, the evolving global security landscape and the cooperation between India and the Nordic bloc. arctic region. During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen said an “even bigger bridge” should be built between Denmark and India.
“We share many values. We are two democratic nations. We both believe in a rules-based international system,” emphasized Mette Fredrickson.
Denmark and India also signed cooperation agreements related to water management on Tuesday (3). There are about 1.3 billion people in India, and about 62.7 million people do not have access to clean water.
Armistice and Neutrality with Russia
During a brief joint appearance by the heads of government of Denmark and India, Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen emphasized: “I hope India can influence Russia in this conflict with Ukraine,” Fredriksson said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke in a neutral tone: “We call for an immediate ceasefire and the adoption of dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict.”
India has not yet condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine that began on February 24 this year. During the appearance of the Danish and Indian leaders in the Danish press, journalists were informed in advance that they could not ask questions of the Indian Prime Minister.
On social media, however, Narendra Modi is very visible and has over 78 million followers on Twitter, making him the most followed head of government in the world.
new era of diplomacy
Narendra Modi’s visit to Denmark follows the fact that Mette Fredriksson officially visited India in October last year, thus softening the ties between the two countries.
Tensions over diplomatic relations between Denmark and India began with the case of Dane Niels Holk, who helped deliver four tons of weapons to a rebel group in India in 1995.
Subsequently, India wanted him to be extradited to stand trial in the Asian country, but in 2011 Danish courts refused to extradite Niels Holk because of the risk of torture. This caused a diplomatic crisis, which led to the suspension of official contact between Denmark and India for some time.
