India and Belgium on Thursday agreed to further strengthen bilateral defence and industrial cooperation, with a renewed focus on institutionalised defence dialogue, high-level military exchanges, training and capacity building.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with Belgium’s Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Theo Francken in New Delhi on September 3, 2026. The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of defence and defence-industrial cooperation and discussed measures to expand engagement between the two countries.
The talks underscored the importance of strengthening structured defence cooperation through regular defence cooperation dialogue, high-level visits, training programmes and capacity-building initiatives. The move is aimed at deepening institutional linkages and enhancing mutual understanding between the defence establishments of the two countries.
Regional peace and security also figured prominently in the discussions, with both sides exchanging views on the evolving security environment. India and Belgium acknowledged the importance of greater cooperation in maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, reflecting the growing significance of a stable, secure and rules-based maritime environment.
The two ministers reiterated that the India-Belgium partnership is anchored in shared values, mutual trust and respect, providing a strong foundation for expanding cooperation across the defence domain.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in New Delhi.
The renewed defence engagement comes as India continues to strengthen its network of strategic partnerships and expand cooperation with European countries across areas including defence, maritime security, technology and industrial collaboration. For Belgium, deeper engagement with India provides an avenue to expand defence ties with a major Indo-Pacific power amid growing emphasis on maritime security and strategic connectivity.
The latest talks are expected to provide further momentum to bilateral defence engagement, particularly through sustained military-to-military interaction, institutional dialogue and capacity-building initiatives, while opening additional avenues for co-operation in the broader security domain.
