Bart De Wever arrived in India with an unusual and thoughtful gift for Prime Minister Narendra Modi: a replica of the iconic India Gate made entirely of Belgian chocolate.
Yet the carefully constructed chocolate sculpture broke down before it could be formally presented to Modi: it broke on the journey from Belgium to India.
The bizarre incident gained attention after the Belgian Embassy in India published a photograph of the damaged chocolate sculpture on X.
De Wever had intended to present the sweet creation to Modi as a symbolic gift highlighting the relationship between India and Belgium, the embassy said.
"The viral India Gate made of chocolate you were wondering about" the Belgian Embassy said, saying De Wever had planned to present the sculpture to Modi.
But the replica did not survive the journey intact. The Belgian Prime Minister is still determined to make sure that the gift reaches Modi, the embassy said.
Belgian PM Jokes about the Chocolate Gift
De Wever spoke about the unusual present in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Thursday.
Dealing with the idea behind the gift, De Wever said he had planned to present Modi with a sculpture of India Gate made from Belgian chocolate and made out of the best Belgian chocolates he could.
However, the chocolate replica proved to be much less durable than the original monument.
"But, unlike the real India Gate, which has stood for almost a century, the chocolate version didn’t even survive the journey to India,” De Wever said, turning the mishap into a light-hearted moment during the press conference.
He then joked that chocolate might be useful for strengthening diplomatic ties but is not necessarily ideal for international diplomatic travel.
The Belgian prime minister said: “Chocolate is excellent for diplomacy, but not excellent for diplomatic travel."
Despite the disappointment, De Wever did not back down on the unusual diplomatic gift. There’s a backup version of the sculpture in Belgium, and he’s determined to get it delivered to Modi, he said.
Why did Belgium choose India Gate
But the India Gate was not only about creating an interesting chocolate sculpture. It was also selected for its historical significance and because of India and Belgium’s history.
De Wever explained in the press conference that India Gate was chosen as a symbol of the historical relationship between the two nations as well as their future partnership.
The monument is also connected to the First World War so closely. Indian soldiers fought and died in Flanders Fields in Belgium. The contribution of Indian soldiers in the past is still at the heart of the relationship between the two countries.
De Wever stressed the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers who served in Belgium over a century ago. He said their contributions should not be forgotten and that it was in fact part of the common history between India and Belgium.
A sweet gift with a serious message
While the chocolate India Gate didn’t survive the journey, the story behind the gift carried a much more diplomatic message.
India Gate itself is one of the most recognizable sights in New Delhi and a memorial to the soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War.
Belgium wanted to connect its own history with India’s role in the war and emphasize the close ties between the two nations by giving the monument to them as a gift.
De Wever also wanted to stress the importance of soldiers’ sacrifice and peace.
The damaged sculpture may have become a nice political joke, but the symbolism behind it is still important.
The incident also showed a lighter side of international diplomacy with a fragile chocolate replica becoming an unexpected talking point during a high-level India-Belgium conversation.
For now, the original chocolate India Gate may have broken before Modi, but Belgium has a backup version. De Wever’s determination to deliver the replacement means the sweet diplomatic gesture may yet have its intended ending.
What started as a fancy chocolate gift has since become more than just a whimsical diplomatic tale.
Belgian culinary craftsmanship, India’s iconic heritage, wartime history and a message on the longevity of a partnership between the two countries all in one of those fragile packages.
