German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first visit to Asia this week underscores Berlin’s accelerating effort to rebalance its economic and strategic partnerships as pressure mounts on Germany’s export-oriented model. With relations strained simultaneously with China – its largest trading partner – and the United States, Merz is positioning India as a long-term hedge for Europe’s biggest economy. Meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad this week, Merz sought to translate political