India, Belgium Deepen Defence Ties

• Rajnath Singh and Theo Francken reviewed India-Belgium defence cooperation.
• Both sides agreed to expand dialogue, visits, training and capacity building.
• Multiple defence-industrial MoUs and contracts were signed.
• India and Belgium stressed maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd Sept: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Belgium’s Defence and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken held bilateral talks in New Delhi on Thursday, reviewing the full spectrum of defence relations and defence-industrial cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral defence ties through regular defence cooperation dialogue, high-level visits, training and capacity building. The discussions also covered regional peace and security, with both sides recognising the importance of greater maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Singh said India and Belgium share warm and long-standing relations founded on mutual respect, democratic values and a shared commitment to a rules-based global order. He noted that the current period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty makes engagement with important partners such as Belgium particularly significant.

Defence industry cooperation gets fresh push
The meeting also gave fresh momentum to defence-industrial cooperation. According to Singh’s remarks following the meeting, multiple MoUs and contracts were signed to leverage Belgian technology alongside Indian skills and manufacturing scale. Details of the agreements were not immediately disclosed by the Ministry of Defence.

Francken, who is accompanying Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever during his September 2-4 visit to India, highlighted the scope for deeper cooperation with India in future projects.

The defence ministers’ meeting took place on the sidelines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with De Wever in New Delhi.

The India-Belgium joint statement said the two countries also welcomed a Letter of Intent between their Defence Ministries establishing a framework for regular exchanges, staff talks, education and training, research cooperation and defence-industrial partnerships. The two sides further noted growing cooperation in maritime security, emerging technologies and the Indo-Pacific.

The joint statement also highlighted planned defence exchanges, including a visit by Belgian frigate LEOPOLD I to India in November 2026, a Belgian Defence College study trip to India in 2027 and an Indian College of Defence Management study tour to Belgium in October 2026.