India and Belgium are expected to deepen their defence partnership with 8 contracts and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), a major step towards greater cooperation in defence production and security.
The development was a big day for Belgium (Defense Minister Theo Francken) and showed that projects are more important than just signing diplomatic letters.
In New Delhi, Francken said Belgium and India were collaborating on the basis of concrete steps towards the enhancement of defence equipment production and protection of citizens in the global geopolitical context.
Francken said the agreements are the result of efforts that began around 19 months ago when a big Belgian economic mission to India was made.
He referred to that visit as Belgium's biggest-ever economic mission to India and said it has now translated into tangible outcomes through the signing of contracts and MoUs.
The cooperation will extend beyond specific projects and both countries will work towards a more structured defence relationship.
Belgium and India will work together on defence issues at a structural level and it can open the possibility of industrial cooperation, technology partnership and joint production opportunities.
The key development is the planned appointment of Defence Attachés in both countries. Belgium will have a Defence Attache in New Delhi, and India will soon have a Defence Attache in Brussels in the next months.
VIDEO | Delhi: Belgium Defence Minister Theo Francken, on India-Belgium defence cooperation, says, "It is a very important day for Belgium. Together with India, we are focusing on concrete deeds and concrete projects. We signed eight contracts to work together on better… pic.twitter.com/HAa8ufMzvM
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 3, 2026
These appointments will also foster the cooperation between the defence establishments and help to enhance future military and industrial cooperation.
Francken also referred to high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries. He met India's Defence Minister in the morning, and the Prime Ministers of India and Belgium as well.
The Belgian minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Brussels before the end of the year. Francken welcomed the visit and said Modi would be warmly welcomed in Belgium.
With changing geopolitical conditions, the agreements come at a time when European and Asian countries are reassessing defence partnerships.
For India, better cooperation with European countries can complement diversification of defence partnerships, while Belgium can gain opportunities for greater engagement with one of the world’s major defence markets.
Production and concrete projects also reflect India’s larger push to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing and international industrial partnerships.
With eight agreements signed, the India-Belgium relationship moves from diplomatic and economic relations to a more formal defence partnership.
The recent exchange of Defence Attachés and Modi's expected Brussels visit could also become more central in this process as well.
