India, Belgium Deepen Strategic Ties

• India and Belgium target doubling bilateral trade in five years
• Belgium backs India’s bid for permanent UN Security Council membership
• Both sides strengthen defence, counter-terrorism and maritime cooperation
• Leaders welcome India-EU FTA and new investment facilitation mechanism

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd Sept: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen and diversify the India-Belgium partnership across trade, investment, defence, technology, security and people-to-people ties.

De Wever is on an official visit to India from September 2 to 4 at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. He is accompanied by Belgium’s Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Theo Francken and a high-level delegation of officials and business leaders. This is De Wever’s first visit to India since taking office in February 2025.

The two leaders recalled the sacrifice of more than 9,000 Indian soldiers in Flanders Fields during the First World War and noted that Belgium was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with India in 1947.

They welcomed the inaugural India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue, launched in Brussels in July 2026, covering trade and investment, green transition, technology, connectivity, defence, security and people-to-people ties.

On economic cooperation, the two sides expressed their determination to double bilateral trade within the next five years. They identified pharmaceuticals, life sciences, healthcare, semiconductors, chemicals, defence, critical minerals, renewable energy, logistics, ports, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies as key areas for cooperation.

The leaders welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and called for early completion of negotiations on the India-EU Investment Protection Agreement and Geographical Indications Agreement.

They also welcomed the launch of the India-Belgium Investment Fast-Track Mechanism, aimed at facilitating investments, addressing business bottlenecks and strengthening bilateral investment ties.

On defence and security, Belgium reaffirmed its solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism and condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 2025. Both countries called for stronger international cooperation against terrorism and its financing and expressed their intention to explore establishing a Belgium-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent between the two Ministries of Defence to promote regular exchanges, staff talks, education and training, research cooperation and defence-industrial partnerships.

Both sides also welcomed the planned visit of Belgian frigate LEOPOLD I to India from November 5 to 8, 2026, Belgium Defence College’s World Study Trip to India in 2027 and the study tour by India’s College of Defence Management to Belgium in October 2026.

On global issues, Belgium reaffirmed its support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. Both countries also agreed to support each other’s candidatures for non-permanent membership of the Council.

The leaders further discussed cooperation in green hydrogen, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, semiconductor technologies, startups, healthcare, education and space technologies.

Both sides exchanged views on international developments, including Ukraine and West Asia, and reaffirmed their support for dialogue and diplomacy. Prime Minister De Wever also invited Prime Minister Modi to undertake a bilateral visit to Belgium at a mutually convenient time.