PM Modi Meets Austrian Chancellor Stocker, Both Sides Emphasise the Need For a Rules-Based Global Order
New Delhi: Prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (April 16) called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global conflicts after talks with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, adding that both leaders support lasting peace “whether in Ukraine or West Asia”.
“Today, the entire world is going through a very serious and tense situation, and its impact is being felt by all of us,” Modi said, adding, “solutions cannot be achieved through military conflict.”
He added, “Whether in Ukraine or West Asia, we support a stable, sustainable, and lasting peace.”
Held very productive discussions with Chancellor Stocker of Austria. We in India are glad that he selected our nation as his first destination to visit outside Europe after he assumed office. This reflects his vision and commitment to India-Austria relations. Equally special is… pic.twitter.com/6tzORXGs7H
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 16, 2026
Stocker backed the position, saying both sides supported a rules-based global order and not one “in which might is right”, and stressed that peace in ongoing conflicts could only be achieved through negotiations. He said India’s voice carried significant weight in international forums.
The remarks came after wide-ranging talks between the two leaders at Hyderabad House, where they reviewed bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.
Together, we are taking our partnership to a new level: we will strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, and green energy. This will create new opportunities for our people and businesses. Our relationship will continue to grow even stronger across all areas… pic.twitter.com/KxIfQXKJ0M
— Christian Stocker (@_CStocker) April 16, 2026
The visit, Stocker’s first to India and the first by an Austrian Chancellor in more than four decades, comes as India and the European Union move towards implementing a free trade agreement, which both sides said would open new opportunities for trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
Six agreements and letters of intent were exchanged following the talks, covering areas such as audiovisual co-production, food safety, defence cooperation, counter-terrorism and vocational training.
The two sides also agreed to set up a joint working group on counter-terrorism to enhance cooperation, including information sharing, counter-radicalisation efforts and capacity building.
In the joint statement, India and Austria condemned terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, and called for coordinated international efforts to counter terror financing and the misuse of emerging technologies by extremist groups.
They also referred to recent terror attacks in India and reaffirmed cooperation at multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force.
On economic ties, Modi said the Austrian Chancellor’s visit would bring “new energy” to trade and investment, adding that “following the historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement, a new golden chapter has begun in relations between India and EU”.
Stocker said the agreement would “reduce trade barriers and create new opportunities for export investments and industrial cooperation”.
He said that in a period of multiple global crises, countries needed to “build alliances” and “seek greater partnership with those who think like us”, while working to “reduce dependencies, diversify and explore new markets”. Bilateral trade currently stands at around $3.5 billion US.
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