Global Dialogue

In cooperation with the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Global Dialogue is a project for parliamentary exchange that brings together members of the German Bundestag, fellow parliamentarians from partner countries and other international political decision-makers in bi- and trilateral formats. The goal of the exchange is to strengthen ties between Germany and key partner countries as a way to build a strategic community of political decision-makers who can address global challenges cooperatively.

The program aims to strengthen ties between Germany and key partner countries to build a strategic community of political decision-makers.

The 2023 – 2024 Global Dialogue program focused on the Indo-Pacific region and specifically aimed to facilitate closer relations between Germany, Australia and India. The Indo-Pacific region will prove crucial in determining the course of the twenty-first century, particularly in terms of regional and global security competitions as well as when it comes to the climate crisis. Australia and India are two key partners for Germany in confronting these challenges. In light of this, there is cause as well as great potential for expanding their relationship.

Study Trip to Australia

Over the course of 2023 and 2024, the Global Dialogue program conducted two study trips. The first trip, in October 2023, brought 10 German parliament members to Australia to connect with Australian counterparts and key policymakers and exchange perspectives on how to deal with pressing issues facing both states. Travelling to Canberrra and Sydney, they also convened with researchers, policymakers, business leaders and NGO representatives. The topics of discussion ranged from strategic interconnectivity in the Indo-Pacific region and economic and security policy, to maritime security, the climate crisis, cyber security, the energy transition and threats to liberal democracies. A high-level meeting with officials from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade addressed issues of maritime security in the Indian ocean region, the AUKUS trilateral security partnership agreement, trade de-risking and Australia-China relations. Finally, the participants met with elders and leaders from Australia’s First Nations people to learn about their history, political representation and the Voice Referendum, a plan to give greater political rights to Indigenous people, that took place in October 2023.

Study Trip to India

Following this successful first trip, 18 German and Australian MPs travelled to India (New Delhi and Mumbai) for an intensive week of engagement in October 2024; they built on the discussions initiated in Australia and, similar to the first trip, met with policymakers, think tankers, researchers, journalists, business leaders, as well as NGO representatives. 

In New Delhi, the study tour focused on better understanding India’s domestic politics and the country’s role and aspirations on the international stage, specifically within the Indo-Pacific region. The delegation also engaged in high-level diplomatic discussions, including a meeting with Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India. These discussions were enriched by briefings from both German Ambassador Dr. Philipp Ackermann and Australian High Commissioner Philip Green, who provided valuable perspectives on India’s evolving role in global affairs, the opportunities and challenges when working with India, as well as India’s key role in the Indo-Pacific region.

In Mumbai, the program’s focus shifted to exploring different economic and social dimensions of India. The city, known as India’s financial and cultural center, provided a fitting backdrop for discussions on the country’s economic trajectory and the role of India’s soft power projection. A topic of particular interest was India’s digital transformation – a strategic imperative, a way to position India as a global leader, as well as a domestic cornerstone that fosters economic growth, social inclusivity and welfare accessibility. 

What’s Next?

The 2023 program started with a kick-off meeting with German MPs in Berlin and will culminate in a final conference in Germany in 2025, where the German program participants will have the time and opportunity to reflect on what they have learned over the course of the program. 

All meetings take place under Chatham House Rule. Over the past two years, GPPi has published its own takes on the central issues raised during the study tours, as well as on German-Australian-Indian bilateral/​trilateral cooperation.

This project is supported by and run in coordination with the Robert Bosch Stiftung.