India-Belgium Defence Ties Gain Momentum Amid Global Turmoil

New Delhi, September 03, 2026 India and Belgium are looking to expand their defence partnership at a time of growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday stressed the need for stronger cooperation, particularly between the defence industries of the two countries, saying there is considerable scope to take the relationship forward. Singh made the remarks during the India-Belgium Defence Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, where Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken led his delegation. Francken is accompanying Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on his official visit to India from September 2 to 4, the first visit by a Belgian Prime Minister to India in more than 20 years. De Wever is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on India-Belgium relations and regional and global issues of mutual interest. “The world is witnessing a time of great geopolitical and economic turmoil. Most of it is not our doing, but we have to handle the challenges. In such situations, meeting a friend and partner like you provides a useful opportunity to exchange views and perspectives,” Singh said. He highlighted the long-standing relationship between India and Belgium, built on mutual respect, democratic values and a shared commitment to a rules-based global order. He also said the India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue had created a framework for advancing cooperation in defence and security. “We welcome greater cooperation with Belgian and Indian defence companies,” Singh said, underlining the potential for deeper industrial collaboration. He later said that both sides reviewed the full spectrum of defence relations and defence industrial cooperation, with several MoUs and contracts signed to combine Belgian technology with Indian skills and scale. Francken also called for closer engagement, saying, “We can learn so much from you. You are a high-technology country,” and added that Belgium “need[s] countries like India” for collaboration on future projects. The talks come as conflicts in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine war continue to shape the global geopolitical environment. Agreeing on the challenges facing the world, Francken stressed the importance of cooperation and said India and Belgium could respond through “friendship and partnership”. The meeting underlined a shared push to deepen defence and technological ties as both countries navigate an increasingly complex global situation.