Our Bureau
New Delhi
India and Belgium on Thursday agreed to significantly expand their strategic partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever reaffirming a shared commitment to eradicate terrorism while strengthening cooperation in defence, trade, clean energy, critical minerals, semiconductors and technology.
The two leaders held talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi and witnessed the exchange of several agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). The partnership is expected to move beyond the traditional India-Belgium economic relationship centred on diamonds, towards wider strategic and technological cooperation.
Counter-terrorism emerged as an important component of the discussions. Modi and De Wever backed a comprehensive approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and stressed the importance of international cooperation against terrorist networks, their financing and safe havens. The two sides also proposed a Belgium-India Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism, aimed at strengthening cooperation as security threats evolve. Belgium expressed support for India’s efforts against cross-border terrorism and condemned the 2025 Pahalgam attack.
Defence cooperation was another major focus. India and Belgium agreed to enhance military exchanges, training and intelligence sharing, while defence industries from both countries are set to pursue greater opportunities for co-development and co-production.
The countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in renewable energy and critical minerals, including their processing and recycling. Work will also be undertaken to connect Belgium’s advanced semiconductor capabilities with India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.
On the economic front, both sides set an ambitious target of doubling bilateral trade over the next five years. An investment fast-track mechanism for Belgian companies in India and a regular India-Belgium Business Forum are among the measures planned to support this goal.
De Wever’s visit, the first by a Belgian prime minister to India in two decades, marks a renewed push to build a broader partnership spanning security, technology, investment and sustainable development.