India-Belgium Defence Cooperation: Rajnath Singh, Theo Francken Push for Stronger Defence Ties
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday called for deeper defence cooperation between India and Belgium, highlighting the significant potential for stronger engagement between the two countries’ defence industries amid growing geopolitical and economic challenges.
Singh made the remarks during the India-Belgium Defence Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, where Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken led the Belgian delegation.
Francken is accompanying Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who is on an official visit to India from September 2 to 4. The visit marks the first visit by a Belgian Prime Minister to India in more than two decades.
Rajnath Singh Highlights Changing Global Situation
Addressing the meeting, Rajnath Singh said the world is going through a period of major geopolitical and economic turmoil. He noted that while many of the challenges were not created by India or Belgium, both countries need to work together to deal with the changing global environment.
Singh said meetings between friends and partners provide an important opportunity to exchange views and perspectives on global developments.
He also highlighted the longstanding India-Belgium partnership, which is based on mutual respect, democratic values and a shared commitment to a rules-based international order.
According to Singh, the recently held India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue has provided a framework for taking bilateral cooperation forward, including in defence and security.
Focus on Defence Industry Cooperation
The Defence Minister stressed the scope for greater industrial collaboration between the two countries. He welcomed increased cooperation between Belgian and Indian defence companies and expressed confidence that the discussions would provide strategic direction to future bilateral defence engagements.
In a post on X, Singh said the two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of defence relations and defence industrial cooperation.
He added that several MoUs and contracts have been signed under defence industrial cooperation, with the aim of combining Belgian technology with Indian skills and manufacturing scale.
Belgian Defence Minister Praises India’s Technology
Theo Francken also expressed support for deeper defence and technology cooperation with India. He praised India’s technological capabilities and said Belgium could learn a great deal from the country.
Describing India as a high-technology country, Francken said Belgium also has considerable technological expertise but needs countries like India to collaborate on future projects.
He described the partnership with India as an important way forward for Belgium and referred to the progress made since Belgium’s largest-ever economic mission to India, led by Princess Astrid in March 2025.
Contracts Signed Within 18 Months
Francken noted that contracts for collaboration projects were signed within 18 months of the March 2025 economic mission. He described the progress as remarkable and said it reflected the efforts being made by both countries to strengthen their bilateral relationship.
Agreeing with Singh’s assessment of the global situation, Francken said the geopolitical challenges facing the world require countries to remain realistic and work together.
He stressed that India and Belgium could address these challenges through friendship and partnership.
Belgian PM to Hold Talks With PM Modi
During his visit, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The two leaders are expected to discuss the full range of India-Belgium relations as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The defence ministers’ meeting comes at a time of evolving geopolitical and economic conditions, including conflicts in West Asia and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
(With ANI inputs)
