India-Belgium Strategic Partnership Explained: Defence, Trade, Chips and Green Energy

High-level political reset: De Wever's visit represents the highest-level political engagement between the two countries in years. Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt had visited India in November 2006, making the present visit the first by a Belgian Prime Minister in about two decades.

Institutionalisation of relations: The visit did not merely produce individual commercial agreements. It consolidated a larger institutional architecture covering strategic dialogue, defence, investment facilitation, counter-terrorism, clean energy, technology, maritime cooperation and mobility.

Strategic context: The relationship is also gaining importance because India-EU ties have moved beyond a mainly economic relationship towards trade, technology, defence, supply-chain resilience and maritime security.

World War I connection: Indian soldiers fought in Belgium's Flanders region during the First World War. The 2026 joint statement recalled the sacrifice of more than 9,000 Indian soldiers in Flanders Fields. This military history remains an important element of the shared historical relationship.

Diplomatic relations: Belgium was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent India in 1947. The two countries will mark 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027.

Earlier high-level contacts: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Brussels in 2016, when India and Belgium discussed counter-terrorism, renewable energy, technology, ports and scientific cooperation. During that visit, the Indo-Belgian Devasthal Optical Telescope was also highlighted as an example of scientific collaboration.

New phase: The inaugural India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue was held in Brussels in July 2026, creating a regular framework covering trade, green transition, innovation, connectivity, defence, security and people-to-people relations.

Gateway to European policymaking: Brussels hosts major institutions of the European Union, including the European Commission, European Council and Council of the EU. This gives Belgium particular diplomatic relevance in India's engagement with Europe.

NATO connection: NATO Headquarters is located in Brussels. Belgium is therefore at the institutional centre of both the European Union and the trans-Atlantic security architecture.

Maritime and logistics strength: The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is one of Europe's major logistics, container, industrial and chemical hubs. This makes Belgium relevant for India's ambitions in ports, green shipping, logistics and European supply chains.

Technology ecosystem: Belgium possesses important technological capabilities in semiconductors, advanced materials, defence equipment, life sciences, clean energy and maritime engineering.

Trade diversification: Diamonds have historically dominated commercial relations, linking Antwerp with Mumbai and Surat. The present strategy is to broaden the relationship into pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, defence, aerospace, chemicals, ports, cleantech, digital technologies, advanced materials and semiconductors.

Investment Fast-Track Mechanism: The newly created India-Belgium Investment Fast-Track Mechanism is intended to provide a dedicated platform for businesses, resolve investment bottlenecks and facilitate both Belgian investment in India and Indian investment in Belgium.

Business Forum: The India-Belgium Business Forum is to become a regular institutional mechanism rather than an occasional business event.

Financial and fintech cooperation: Both sides have agreed to strengthen coordination between financial, fintech and regulatory institutions. This can potentially support digital finance, cross-border investment and innovation while enabling regulators to exchange experience.

Institutional finance: Belgium's sovereign investment institution SFPIM and India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund are exploring deeper cooperation aimed at developing an Indo-Belgian economic and investment corridor. Cooperation between BIO Invest and NIIF is also being explored.

BLEU mechanism: The Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union Joint Economic Commission remains another institutional platform for bilateral economic cooperation.

Important distinction: India and the EU concluded negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement at the 16th India-EU Summit in January 2026. However, conclusion of negotiations does not itself mean that every provision has already entered into force. The published text remains subject to legal revision, signature and completion of the parties' required internal procedures.

Market opportunity: Once implemented, the FTA can reduce trade barriers, improve market access and strengthen European and Indian supply chains. Belgium can become an important gateway for Indian products and firms seeking access to continental Europe.

Beyond the FTA: Negotiations on an India-EU Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications are still separate processes. India and Belgium called for their early conclusion.

Economic security angle: The bilateral partnership is increasingly linked with India's and Europe's attempts to diversify critical supply chains and reduce excessive dependence on any single geography.

Government-to-government framework: The Defence Ministries signed a Letter of Intent for regular defence dialogue, staff talks, training, education, research and industrial cooperation. This converts sporadic military contacts into a more structured relationship.

Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation: Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh and Theo Francken specifically acknowledged the need for cooperation on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

Military exchanges: Belgium's frigate LEOPOLD I is scheduled to visit India in November 2026. Defence-college exchanges, military education and resident defence attachés are also being expanded.

Co-development approach: India wants Belgian companies to combine advanced niche technologies with India's manufacturing capacity, supporting Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat rather than establishing a purely buyer-seller relationship.

Industry ecosystem: The Ministry of Defence confirmed agreements involving the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers and the Belgian Security & Defence Industry, as well as Indian and Belgian firms including L&T, Exail Robotics, Kalyani Strategic Systems, FN Herstal, Tembo Classic Engineering, Lachaussée, India Optel, OIP, DGVK Enterprises, Sol1 and Thales.

Rocket systems: Kalyani Strategic Systems and Thales agreed to explore cooperation on 70-mm unguided and laser-guided rockets, including localisation of production and integration in India.

Small arms and counter-drone systems: Kalyani Strategic Systems and FN Herstal are examining a dedicated production centre in India covering small arms, integrated weapon systems and counter-unmanned aerial systems.

Mine countermeasures: L&T's cooperation with Exail is linked with unmanned systems capable of detecting, classifying, identifying and neutralising naval mines. Such systems are important because mines can block ports, shipping channels and naval operating areas.

Electro-optics and ammunition: Other industry agreements involve electro-optical systems, ammunition-production technologies, unmanned systems and associated defence technologies. The wider significance lies in localisation, technology absorption and domestic supply-chain creation.

High-altitude requirement: Zorawar is India's lightweight tank programme designed for mobility and deployment in difficult high-altitude terrain.

Belgian technology connection: Prime Minister Modi specifically cited the Zorawar programme while discussing India-Belgium defence cooperation. Belgian company John Cockerill has been associated with turret technology for the programme.

Strategic lesson: The programme illustrates India's emerging model of combining domestic platform development with selected foreign technologies while seeking localisation and manufacturing within India.

Trade-route vulnerability: India's economic growth depends heavily on uninterrupted maritime trade. Events in West Asia, the Red Sea and other maritime regions have demonstrated that disruption of shipping routes can affect freight costs, energy security and supply chains.

Belgian interest: Belgium is a major trading and port economy. The safety of international shipping is therefore important to both countries.

Port cooperation: India and Belgium plan cooperation in port development, logistics, dredging, connectivity and offshore-wind infrastructure. Cooperation between Belgium's Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Centre and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority is also envisaged for capacity building.

Indo-Pacific-Europe linkage: The relationship reflects a broader strategic idea that European prosperity and Indo-Pacific security are increasingly interconnected because the same sea lanes carry energy, raw materials and manufactured products between the two regions.

Counter-terrorism: Belgium expressed solidarity with India against terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and reiterated its condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 2025. Both countries referred to the UN and FATF framework and the UNSC 1267 sanctions regime.

Institutional mechanism: The two sides intend to explore a Belgium-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism to address emerging terrorist threats.

Police cooperation: The Central Bureau of Investigation and Belgian Federal Police signed an MoU covering transnational organised crime, cybercrime, information sharing, tracing fugitives, capacity building and exchange of best practices.

Importance for India: Cyber-enabled crime, terrorism financing and transnational criminal networks increasingly cross jurisdictions. Formal police-to-police arrangements can therefore complement conventional diplomatic cooperation.

Belgian technological advantage: Belgium is home to imec, headquartered in Leuven, one of the world's largest independent research and innovation centres for nanoelectronics and digital technologies. It possesses advanced semiconductor R&D infrastructure and works with firms and universities across the global chip ecosystem.

Indian objective: India is attempting to build a domestic semiconductor ecosystem encompassing chip design, fabrication, packaging, equipment, research and skilled manpower.

Proposed linkage: The joint statement specifically encourages collaboration between imec and Indian semiconductor companies, the ChipIN Centre, C-DAC and universities.

Strategic significance: Modern chips are required for smartphones, AI, defence electronics, vehicles, telecommunications and critical infrastructure. Semiconductor partnerships are therefore simultaneously industrial, technological and national-security partnerships.

UPSC angle: This is an example of how foreign policy is increasingly driven by critical and emerging technologies rather than only conventional diplomacy.

Meaning: Critical minerals are minerals considered essential for economic or national-security applications but whose supply chains face significant vulnerability.

Bilateral focus: India and Belgium agreed to enhance cooperation particularly in critical-mineral processing and recycling, rather than focusing only on extraction.

Circular-economy dimension: Recycling can recover valuable minerals from batteries, electronics and industrial waste and reduce dependence on virgin mineral extraction.

Strategic relevance: Greater processing and recycling capacity can strengthen supply security for renewable energy, electric mobility, electronics, semiconductors and defence industries.

Expanded framework: The renewed MoU builds upon cooperation initiated under the 2015 framework and includes green hydrogen, solar power, energy storage, offshore wind, bioenergy, small hydropower and pumped-storage projects.

Green hydrogen: Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable electricity to split water through electrolysis. When hydrogen is combined with nitrogen, it can produce green ammonia, which is easier to transport and has potential uses in fertilisers, shipping and industrial decarbonisation.

Kakinada project: Prime Minister Modi highlighted the large green-ammonia project at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. Belgian company John Cockerill is supplying advanced electrolyser technology for the project, showing how bilateral cooperation can link European technology with India's renewable-energy manufacturing ambitions.

Climate diplomacy: Both countries also reaffirmed the Paris Agreement and the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

Climate-maritime connection: India and Belgium recognised the role of oceans and coastal ecosystems in climate resilience, sustainable development and coastal livelihoods.

BBNJ Agreement: The joint statement specifically referred to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, which provides an international framework relating to marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Broader relevance: For India, maritime cooperation with Belgium therefore extends beyond defence to shipping, ports, renewable energy and ocean governance.

Mobility: Both sides stressed faster visa processing and mobility for professionals, students, researchers and business travellers.

Migration agreement: India and Belgium intend to work towards a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement to create more predictable legal pathways for talent mobility.

Higher education: Prime Minister Modi invited leading Belgian universities to establish campuses in India under the framework enabled by India's National Education Policy.

Skills cooperation: Technical and Vocational Education and Training cooperation may cover apprenticeships, trainer development, future skills and recognition of qualifications.

Connectivity: Both sides also encouraged airlines to explore direct air connectivity between India and Belgium.

India-EU transformation: At the 16th India-EU Summit, the two sides concluded FTA negotiations, signed a Security and Defence Partnership and adopted a Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda towards 2030.

Security agenda: The India-EU Security and Defence Partnership covers maritime security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, space and counter-terrorism.

Belgium as bridge: Bilateral cooperation with Belgium can therefore reinforce India's wider engagement with European defence industries, regulators, research institutions and supply chains.

Strategic autonomy: This does not imply India joining a European or NATO alliance structure. India's approach continues to emphasise issue-based partnerships while preserving independent decision-making.

Ukraine: Both countries supported efforts towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy consistent with the UN Charter and international law.

West Asia: They emphasised dialogue and diplomatic engagement and drew attention to the security of maritime routes and uninterrupted commercial shipping.

Indian foreign-policy significance: The language broadly reflects India's emphasis on diplomacy and strategic autonomy while allowing deeper cooperation with European partners on areas where interests converge.

UNSC reform: Belgium reaffirmed support for India's permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.

Reciprocal support: India and Belgium agreed to support each other's future non-permanent UNSC candidatures.

Rules-based multilateralism: Both governments called for reform of multilateral institutions to make them more representative of contemporary geopolitical realities.

UPSC relevance: Belgium therefore matters not merely as a bilateral partner but also as an EU member, NATO member and supporter of India's aspiration for reform of global governance institutions.

Defence manufacturing: Belgian niche technologies can complement India's lower-cost engineering and large manufacturing base.

Semiconductors: Cooperation with imec can improve access to advanced R&D, training and research networks.

Green transition: Belgian technology in electrolysers, offshore wind and industrial engineering can support India's energy-transition programmes.

European market access: Belgium's logistics infrastructure and central location can help Indian companies integrate more deeply into European value chains.

Supply-chain diversification: Partnerships in pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, chips and defence can support India's wider objective of resilient and trusted supply chains.

Strategic influence: Stronger ties with Belgium also deepen India's engagement with the institutions of the European Union headquartered in Brussels.

Implementation gap: Many bilateral declarations and MoUs create frameworks rather than guaranteed investments or procurements. Their success will depend on converting them into commercially viable projects.

Technology transfer: Defence and semiconductor collaboration often involves intellectual-property restrictions, export controls and commercial sensitivities.

FTA transition: Although India-EU FTA negotiations have concluded, legal processes and implementation will determine the actual market-access benefits.

Regulatory differences: Differences in data rules, sustainability standards, carbon regulation, product certification and investment regulation can affect companies.

Defence procurement: Indian procurement timelines, testing requirements, localisation expectations and cost considerations can slow projects.

Strategic differences: India and European states do not necessarily hold identical positions on Russia, sanctions or global security. The partnership will therefore need to preserve room for India's strategic autonomy.

Supply-chain economics: Diversification away from concentrated suppliers is strategically attractive but may initially be more expensive than existing supply arrangements.

Convert frameworks into projects: The new Strategic Dialogue, defence Letter of Intent and Investment Fast-Track Mechanism should be supported by clear timelines, nodal agencies and regular reviews.

Prioritise genuine co-development: Defence partnerships should progressively move from assembly towards joint R&D, local intellectual-property creation, component ecosystems and export-oriented production.

Deepen semiconductor R&D: India should use cooperation with imec to strengthen advanced research, university-industry linkages, chip design skills and semiconductor process knowledge.

Build resilient mineral chains: Cooperation should focus on recycling technologies, urban mining, processing capacity, material substitution and transparent traceability standards.

Create a green industrial corridor: Green hydrogen, green ammonia, offshore wind, ports and shipping can be integrated so that clean-energy cooperation also generates manufacturing and export opportunities.

Strengthen maritime interoperability: Port training, mine-countermeasure technology, maritime-domain awareness and naval exchanges can provide practical content to Indo-Pacific cooperation.

Use the India-EU framework effectively: Bilateral initiatives with Belgium should complement the India-EU FTA, Trade and Technology Council, Security and Defence Partnership and 2030 Strategic Agenda rather than operate in isolated silos.

Protect strategic autonomy: India can deepen technology and defence ties with Belgium and the EU while maintaining an independent, issue-based foreign policy and avoiding rigid bloc politics.