Garima Mohan

Senior Fellow, Indo-Pacific Program
Berlin Office
Indo-Pacific Program
Staff,
GMF Expert
My Areas of Expertise:
European Union India Indo-Pacific

Dr. Garima Mohan is a senior fellow in the Indo-Pacific program, where she leads the work on India and heads the India Trilateral Forum. Based in GMF’s office in Berlin, her research focuses on Europe-India ties, EU foreign policy in Asia, and security in the Indo-Pacific. Prior to joining GMF, she was the acting team leader and coordinator for the EU’s Asia-Pacific Research and Advice Network (APRAN), which supports EU policymakers on issues concerning the Asia-Pacific. She also led the Global Orders program at the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin.

Garima holds a PhD from the Freie Universität Berlin and received her master’s degree from the London School of Economics. She was a non-resident fellow at Carnegie India, an Asian Forum for Global Governance Fellow, and a 2017 Raisina Young Fellow. She has published widely on Indian foreign and security policy, EU-Asia relations, Germany-India ties, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, and is a frequent commentator for European and Indian media including NZZ, The Hindu, The Wire and Deutsche Welle.

Her full list of publications can be found here.

Media Mentions

by
Garima Mohan
“ While a majority of those polled (64%) currently see the U.S. as the world’s most influential actor, respondents believe the gap between the U.S. and China will close in the next five years. ”
Foreign Policy
by
Garima Mohan
“ The India-EU relationship shouldn’t be evaluated solely on the outcome of FTA negotiations. The Trade and Technology Council is also key, as all main issues, from security to trade, intersect with technology. ”
Capital FM
by
Garima Mohan
“ European leaders and policymakers are convinced by India’s position and understand the stand it has taken. It is also important to note that India’s position has evolved as the (Ukraine) war has worsened, civilian casualties have increased and effects of the conflict are now being felt beyond the borders of Europe. ”
The Print
by
Garima Mohan
“ India has realized that Europe can be an important partner in building India’s domestic resilience and capacities—several new partnership agreements with Europe have focused on increasing trade and investments, green partnerships for tackling climate change, new technologies, and defense manufacturing. ”
Firstpost
by
Garima Mohan
“ Our diplomatic energies are no longer focused on the capitals of Paris, Berlin and London. India is starting to develop new partnerships with Europe’s sub-regions. India and Denmark, for example, signed a unique Green Strategic Partnership in 2020 – which will focus on dealing with climate, advanced technologies, and renewable energy. These are all crucial for India for building domestic resilience and capacities. ”
Hindustan Times
by
Garima Mohan
“ But India, like many in the region, does not want to fall in the “West versus the rest” dichotomy. It needs to work with Russia because it faces an aggressive China. As Moscow and Beijing grow closer, New Delhi may not have a choice but to revise its position. ”
The Hundred
by
Garima Mohan
“ For India, it is quite crucial to balance its relationship with the West – the United States and Europe – in which it has invested a lot in recent times. ”
Euronews
by
Garima Mohan
“ European officials working with India are disappointed but certainly understand its position. The official line is everything is business-as-usual with India. But for political actors and European publics not familiar with Indian foreign policy, it will be a hard sell. ”
Aljazeera
by
Garima Mohan
“ The EU, one of India's biggest trade and investment partners had also shifted its approach towards the South Asian country in recent years — no longer viewing it purely through a trade lens but increasingly through a strategic one that can help the bloc counter China's influence in Asia and beyond. ”
Deutsche Welle
by
Garima Mohan
“ With respect to the [EU's Indo-Pacific strategy], what is different now is not so much the footprint of the bloc in the Indo-Pacific but an understanding that the EU needs to view this region more strategically than it has in the past. ”
DW
by
Garima Mohan
“ China rejecting Germany's request for a port call is a rude awakening for Berlin that its Indo-Pacific strategy cannot be neutral. ”
AP News
by
Garima Mohan
“ During his visit last week to Europe, President Joe Biden sought greater alignment between the United States and its European allies on policy toward China and the Indo-Pacific. ”
Translated from English
War on the Rocks

Featured Work