Berlin is also disappointed over New Delhi’s decision to scrap the tender for six mid-air refuellers for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
European consortium EADS Airbus was the frontrunner to clinch the $ 1.5 billion deal. German Ambassador Thomas Matussek said that the cancellation of the tender had come as a “nasty surprise” for Berlin.
Though New Delhi’s delay in clearing the long-pending pacts with Berlin and the cancellation of the tender for the refuellers have cast a shadow on German President’s visit to India, Matussek expressed hope that the visit would help strengthen the strategic partnership forged between the two countries in 2001.
He said that Germany was also ready to explore the possibility of civil nuclear cooperation with India.
Published 30 January 2010, 19:13 IST