Alongside prime minister Bart De Wever, his party colleague Francken is visiting India in the coming days. For the Defence minister, the focus is on security. “What happens in Asia has implications for Europe, and vice versa. Our security does not end at our borders. Therefore, we must work more closely with strong partners like India — militarily, technologically, and industrially.”
The signing of the Letter of Intent is scheduled for Thursday. It outlines the framework for the structural cooperation between the two armed forces. The areas covered include training, officer exchanges, research and development, seminars, joint exercises, and cooperation on maritime security. Both countries also aim to develop an industrial roadmap. The Belgian Defence College also plans to organise its World Study Trip in India in 2027.
“We have built trust. Now we need to translate that into concrete cooperation. Not just vague statements, but joint training, industrial projects, and opportunities for our companies,” said Francken.
To this end, the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Belgian Security & Defence Industry (BSDI) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) is important. These are the sector organisations representing the Belgian and Indian defence industries. “The scale is enormous,” emphasises the minister. “India is modernising one of the largest armies in the world. Those who gain access to its programmes through their technology are quickly talking about large orders and major contracts.”
He believes that our industry possesses strong expertise in areas that India aims to strengthen. Fifteen Belgian defence companies are participating in the mission. In addition to the agreement between the sector organisations, seven specific industrial collaborations are also central.
The initial translation of this content was generated by AI. All facts, context, and language have subsequently been verified and validated by a human editorial team.
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