{"id":8968,"date":"2026-09-04T05:57:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T05:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/defence\/8968\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T05:57:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T05:57:07","slug":"from-trade-to-tanks-india-belgium-ties-shift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/defence\/8968\/","title":{"rendered":"From Trade To Tanks: India-Belgium Ties Shift"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"INDIA<\/a>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Belgian counterpart Bart De Wever ahead of their talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on September 3, 2026,<\/p>\n

India and Belgium expand ties across defence, counter-terrorism, trade, technology and clean energy, with bilateral trade targeted to double in five years.<\/p>\n

India and Belgium are broadening their relationship beyond traditional economic ties, with defence, counter-terrorism, technology, clean energy and investment emerging as key areas of cooperation.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Belgian counterpart Bart De Wever held wide-ranging talks in New Delhi on Thursday, agreeing to deepen cooperation and work towards doubling bilateral trade over the next five years.<\/p>\n

De Wever, on his first visit to India as Belgian prime minister, also oversaw a series of government and industry-level agreements, with defence emerging as a central focus.<\/p>\n

India-Belgium ties are entering an ambitious new phase.<\/p>\n

Today, during the talks with PM Bart De Wever, we agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, defence, clean energy, critical minerals, semiconductors, research and talent mobility.<\/p>\n

We have also established an Investment\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/BtMxqWyy3S<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The two nations signed a Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation covering regular military exchanges, training, education, research and closer engagement between their defence establishments.<\/p>\n

They also backed greater defence-industry cooperation through co-development, co-production, technology partnerships and resilient supply chains.<\/p>\n

At the India-Belgium Defence CEOs\u2019 Roundtable and B2B meetings in New Delhi, government officials and defence industry leaders explored potential business opportunities.<\/p>\n

Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken called for closer international partnerships amid an increasingly uncertain security environment, saying, \u201cUnited we stand, divided we fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

India\u2019s Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth highlighted India\u2019s revised foreign direct investment framework and invited Belgian companies to pursue joint ventures and co-development projects with Indian firms in the country\u2019s two Defence Industrial Corridors.<\/p>\n

The industry discussions proposed an India-Belgium Joint Defence Industry Working Group to identify priority projects, monitor progress and expand cooperation in technology, manufacturing and supply chains.<\/p>\n

Several company-to-company agreements were also exchanged in areas including robotics, defence systems, optics and engineering, with both sides seeking longer-term industrial partnerships rather than product sales alone.<\/p>\n

Security cooperation will extend beyond defence manufacturing. Modi and De Wever agreed to explore establishing a Belgium-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.<\/p>\n

De Wever reaffirmed Belgium\u2019s solidarity with India in combating terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and condemned the 2025 Pahalgam attack.<\/p>\n

The two leaders said terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and called for stronger international action against terrorist organisations, their networks, financing and safe havens.<\/p>\n

A separate agreement between India\u2019s Central Bureau of Investigation and Belgium\u2019s Federal Police will strengthen cooperation against transnational organised crime and cybercrime, including intelligence sharing, capacity building and assistance in tracing fugitives.<\/p>\n

Economic cooperation also received a major boost. Alongside the five-year trade target, India and Belgium agreed to establish a business forum, investment forum and consular dialogue.<\/p>\n

An Investment Fast-Track Mechanism is expected to help businesses address bottlenecks and encourage greater two-way investment.<\/p>\n

The partnership is also expanding into green hydrogen, renewable energy, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, logistics and fintech.<\/p>\n

Modi highlighted cooperation on advanced defence equipment, including the Zorawar tank, as well as major clean-energy projects.<\/p>\n

De Wever described India as an \u201ceconomic and technological powerhouse\u201d, saying its growing global influence makes it an increasingly important partner for Belgium.<\/p>\n

The talks also reinforced the broader India-Europe relationship. Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the India-EU strategic partnership and welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.<\/p>\n

Belgium also reiterated its support for India\u2019s candidature for permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council.<\/p>\n

The visit also produced an unexpected diplomatic mishap when De Wever\u2019s planned gift to Modi\u2014a miniature India Gate made entirely of Belgian chocolate\u2014failed to survive its journey to India.<\/p>\n

\u201cChocolate is excellent for diplomacy, but not excellent for diplomatic travel,\u201d De Wever joked, adding that a backup version remained in Belgium and would be brought to Modi intact.<\/p>\n

The gift was intended to recall the Indian soldiers who fought and died in Belgium during the First World War.<\/p>\n

The visit produced a broad roadmap for closer India-Belgium cooperation, with defence, technology, trade, security and investment increasingly shaping the bilateral relationship.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n