Antwerp Meets New Delhi: Belgium’s Return and the New Architecture of India-Belgium Ties
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By Utkarsh Garg
A diamond that once brought India and Belgium closer. The next chapter of the relationship between New Delhi and Brussels would now be shaped by semiconductors, critical minerals, ports, green and renewable energy and defence ties.
For decades, diamonds have been one of the most visible symbols of the economic relationships between India and Belgium, connecting Antwerp with the cutting and trading centres of Mumbai and Surat. Despite that, the foundation of this relationship are now expanding beyond economy and trade. As the Global supply chains are getting reshaped by geopolitical landscape and technological transformation, India and Belgium are increasingly finding a common ground in defence, advanced technology, AI, investment, trade, maritime connectivity and economic security.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s India visit represents beyond diplomatic engagement. This is first ever state visit to India by any Belgian Prime Minister in 2 decades. This signals an effort to transform a longstanding economic relationship into a broader strategic partnership one capable of responding to the opportunities and uncertainties of a rapidly changing global economy. The Prime Minister of Belgium was also accompanied by Belgium’s defence and foreign trade minister Theo Francken, and a high-level delegation of officials and business leaders.
India-EU Strategic Partnership, Free Trade Agreement and the Role of Belgium
The Prime Minister of both India and Belgium reaffirmed the centrality of the India-EU strategic partnership to India-Belgium relations reaching the next level. Hailing the India-EU Free Trade Agreement as one of the historic milestone in the strategic partnership, the leaders called for its timely implementation for realising true potential for trade and investment collaboration through diversifying critical value chains and opening markets.
Both Prime Ministers welcomed the significant progress mode under India-EU Trade and Technology council, including Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels in July 2026 towards forging more integrated, resilient and sustainable economic and technological partnerships when trade and technologies are becoming increasingly intertwined. In this context, both leaders committed towards strengthening further co-operation between New Delhi and Brussels and the European Union on trade, technology, economic security and resilient supply chains.
Both countries furthermore noted that signing of the India-EU security and defence partnerships will deepen strategic cooperation in areas of shared interests, including maritime security, defence industry and technology, cyber and hybrid threats, space, AI and counter-terrorism operations.
Investment meets Trade and Economy
India’s ambition to become a $10 Trillion economy in the coming years, and with Belgium being the 24th largest economy in the world acknowledging abundant opportunities.
Recognizing the strong complementarities between the two economies reaffirming their commitment towards deepening their commitment towards deepening trade, investment and economic cooperation. Welcoming the steady expansion of bilateral economic ties and the growing diversification of sectors in bilateral trade, and expressed their determination to further strengthen cooperation across key sectors including doubling of bilateral trade in the next 5 years.
The growth and diversification of bilateral economic ties and expansion of cooperation in the areas of semiconductors, chemicals, critical minerals, pharmacy, defence collaborations, recycling, sustainable development and nuclear energy exploring emerging opportunities for cooperation involving private sector stakeholders. Both Prime Ministers acknowledging diamond trade importance linking Surat and Mumbai with Antwerp agreeing to further strengthen historic partnership while pursuing new avenues for economic engagement and shared growth. Underlining the strategic importance of maritime and port cooperation welcoming opportunities to strengthen deeper collaboration in port development, sea connectivity, dredging and offshore wind infrastructure.
The launch of India-Belgium Investment fast-track mechanism and recognizing as an important step towards further strengthening bilateral investment ties. The mechanism will serve as a dedicated platform to facilitate and expand both Belgian investments in India and Indian investments in Belgium, support businesses, address investment bottlenecks, and foster a more conductive environment for long-term economic cooperation between two countries.
Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed the significance of the India-Belgium -Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) Joint Economic commission as a key mechanism for advancing bilateral economic cooperation and looked forward to its 19th session later in 2026.
Current India-Belgium bilateral trade stands at $13 billion. The target of doubling the bilateral trade in the next 5 years comes with a recognition that the relationship has room to grow. Belgium is already an important European economic partner for India as stated by Belgian Prime Minister Belgium as economic gateway of Europe.
The Defence Security Cooperation
Prime Minister Bart De Wever conveyed solidarity of Belgium with India in fight against terrorism, including cross-border terrorism. Belgian Prime Minister condemned terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, India in April 2025 underscoring the commitment towards comprehensive/global approach to counterterrorism and affirming that terrorism, in any form anywhere, could never be justified, and called for its perpetrators to be held accountable in accordance to the international law. Both leaders of the nation agree that international community must act together against terrorist groups including those designated under UNSC 1267 sanctions regime, terrorist groups including the UN and FATF. Calling to strengthen international cooperation in preventing and combatting terrorism exploring the establishment of India-Belgian Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism with a view to enhancing bilateral cooperation addressing evolving terrorist threats.
On defence cooperation, both leaders have welcomed the signing of the letter of intent between the two ministries of defence establishing regular exchanges, education and training, research and development and defence industrial partnerships.
From maritime security to military hardware, from drones to rockets, India and Belgium decided to cooperate and pacts were signed between the two sides when defence ministers of both the countries Theo Francken of Belgium and Shri Rajnath Singh of India met.
Belgian Minister Francken having a portfolio of defence as well as foreign trade accompanied the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The meeting and the mission was to focus on growing interconnectedness of security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, closer military cooperation and concrete opportunities for defence companies of both India and Belgium. Around 15 companies were part of the Belgian delegation.
Belgian Defence Minister Francken stressed on the geostrategic importance of this strategic defence pact with India he stated, “India is a rapidly growing economy and a major military power in the Indo-Pacific.” Furthermore, he stated that the country is also strategically located along with some of the world’s most important trade routes. For an open trade nation like Belgium, the security of these trade and sea routes becomes essential. Europe’s security at the same time is steadily growing and interconnected with development in Asia. He added that Russia's war with Ukraine. China becoming assertive in the Indo-Pacific. What happens in Asia, Europe faces the consequences. Our security does not stop at borders. That’s why Belgium needs to work more closely with strong partners such as India: militarily, technologically and industrially as stated by the Belgian Minister.
Maritime Security is one of the key areas of focus. India wants to strengthen its capabilities in mine warfare, underwater robotics, advanced sensors and critical infrastructure protection, including ports, pipelines and subsea data cables. Both countries have explored opportunities in weapon system, ammunition, radar, electro-optical sensors, command and control and counter-drone systems.
10 agreements signed between Indian and Belgian defence companies. The defence agreements cover wide range of technologies, including ammunition, rockets, autonomous maritime systems, mine warfare, drones, counter-drone systems, and armoured-vehicle systems and air-defence software.
Both countries welcomed the appointment of Defence Attache by Belgium in New Delhi and India’s appointment of resident Defence Attache in Indian Embassy in Brussels.
Belgium has also assured India that it would not undertake defence cooperation with Pakistan involving the supply of military equipment, technology and Intelligence sharing.
Green and Renewable Energy
Both the countries have signed of the renewed MoU on Renewable Energy cooperation between India and Belgium. The renewed MoUs are build upon the cooperation established under the 2015 framework and work of joint working groups of renewable energy, and expands collaborations in key areas including green hydrogen, solar energy, energy storage, offshore wind energy, bio-energy, small hydropower and pumped storage plants.
The growing collaboration between India and Belgium in the field of green hydrogen,
including industrial partnership and knowledge exchange. India & Belgium is playing an important role in strengthening green hydrogen value chain, including production, transportation, storage, and end-use applications with view of advancing de-carbonisation, fostering innovation, enhancing energy security, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Both the nations are committed to the Paris agreement long-term goals, including the temperature goal, and its principles, including the temperature goal, and its principles, including equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities in different national circumstances. Enhanced climate action, particularly in developing countries, is enabled by mobilising adequate, predictable and accessible climate finance from all sources, development and dissemination climate technologies and capacity-building, and underscore the importance of strengthening international cooperation in these areas. Both side committed to strengthen climate adaptation, resilience and disaster preparedness.
Geopolitical Issues
Both leaders discussed major international developments including Russia-Ukraine and recent West Asia conflict. In context of Ukraine, both sides support the efforts towards achievements of comprehensive dialogue and diplomacy, in accordance with the UN principles. UN charter and international law. Same was discussed in terms of West Asia to address challenges in a peaceful manner. There was also discussion on the importance of ensuring safety and security of maritime routes and maintaining safe and unimpeded maritime shipping.
The shared commitment to further deepen and diversifying India-Belgium Partnership, guided by mutual trust and a shared vision for peace, prosperity, development and democracy building on these foundations, expressing confidence that the India-Belgium Partnership would continue to deliver tangible benefits for both peoples and in this geopolitical world contributing to strengthen collaboration between India and Europe in addressing shared global challenges.
Conclusion
Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s state visit to India was not an ordinary one. In the context of deepening and diversifying India-Belgium strategic bilateral partnership and increasing bilateral and India-EU ties, Prime Minister De Wever extended invitation to PM Modi to undertake bilateral state visit to Belgium.
Therefore, the importance of India-Belgium relations has increased as we can call Belgium as “Singapore of Europe” or “Gateway of Trade in Europe”.
About the Author
Utkarsh Garg is an International Relations researcher focusing on Indian foreign policy, maritime diplomacy, the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia. His research interests include India’s engagement with the Indian Ocean region, Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia and development partnerships. He has researched India–Seychelles relations and presented his work on digital cooperation at the High Commission of the Republic of Seychelles in India.
References
“India-Belgium Joint Statement on the visit of the PM of Belgium to India”, MinistryofExternalAffairs, 3 September 2026 (Accessed on 4 September 2026)
“India, Belgium unveil 10 key outcomes during PM De Wever’s visit, MEA says ties focused on 3Ts-trade, technology, talent”, ANI, 4 September 2026 (Accessed on 4 September 2026)
Roy Shubhajit, “India, Belgium to Strengthen defence, semiconductor ties”, IndianExpress, September 4 2026 (Accessed on 4 September 2026)
“India, Belgium Reaffirm their commitment to deepening Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation”, AIRAkashVani, September 3 2026 (Accessed on September 4 2026)
“Why Belgium is Deepening its India Push Beyond Diamonds and Into Trade, Defence and Technology”, OPENMAGZINE, 4 September 2026 (Accessed on 4 September 2026)
Philips Alex Snehesh, “Belgium assures India on Pakistan Defence ties as firm sign key pacts, including mine warfare”, 3 September 2026 (Accessed on 4 September 2026)
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