Rajnath Singh holds bilateral talks with Belgium’s defence minister Theo Francken in New Delhi (PC: MoD)
— By Huma
New Delhi: India and Belgium are moving to give their defence partnership a robust industrial foundation, with 10 agreements set to deepen cooperation in areas including rocket assembly, ammunition, drones, naval systems and advanced defence technologies.
The push comes as Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever begins his three-day India visit, accompanied by Defence and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken and a delegation of 15 Belgian defence companies.
Among the most significant projects is a proposed partnership between Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems for the local assembly of 70mm rockets. The first rocket produced entirely in India under the arrangement is expected in early 2027. Another collaboration involving New Lachaussée and Tembo Classic Engineering could establish an ammunition production line with an annual capacity of around 100 million rounds.
The industrial initiatives coincide with efforts to establish a more structured military relationship. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Francken held talks in New Delhi on Thursday, focussing on defence cooperation, training, capacity building, high-level exchanges and maritime security.
Amidst the growing geopolitical uncertainty, Singh said closer partnerships had become increasingly important. “The world is witnessing a time of great geopolitical and economic turmoil,” he said, describing the meeting with Belgium as an opportunity to exchange perspectives and address emerging challenges.
Singh also pointed to the untapped potential in defence manufacturing, saying, “We see considerable potential for expanding our bilateral defence cooperation, and we welcome greater cooperation among Belgian and Indian defence companies.”
Francken echoed that broader strategic outlook, arguing that Belgium’s security interests can no longer be viewed solely through a European lens. “What happens in Asia has implications for Europe, and vice versa,” he said, stressing the need for closer cooperation with India “militarily, technologically, and industrially.”
The Belgian minister also sees India’s growing technological capabilities as an opportunity for long-term cooperation. “We need to collaborate on future projects, and for Belgium, this is the way forward,” Francken said.
That stress on future projects is reflected in the growing involvement of the private sector. Defence industry bodies from both countries are strengthening institutional ties, while individual companies are pursuing partnerships aimed at translating political commitments into production, technology cooperation and commercial contracts.
For India, the Belgian engagement fits its broader effort to expand domestic defence manufacturing and bring foreign technology into local production. For Belgium, India offers access to one of the world’s largest defence markets and an increasingly important technology and manufacturing ecosystem.
Belgium’s strategic value also extends beyond its size. Its position within Europe’s political, industrial and security architecture gives New Delhi another channel into the wider European ecosystem.
De Wever’s visit, the first by a Belgian prime minister to India in more than two decades, thus carries significance beyond diplomacy. With defence cooperation increasingly moving from dialogue to joint production and technology partnerships, India and Belgium are seeking to turn political goodwill into a more durable strategic relationship.
