India and Belgium signed 10 major agreements on Thursday as Belgian Defence and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken concluded his visit to New Delhi. The pacts cover defence cooperation, industrial collaboration, and strategic dialogue between the two nations.
Belgium Rules Out Defence Ties with Pakistan
Belgium assured India that it will not enter into any defence deal with Pakistan. The assurance came after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh cautioned Francken that transferring defence technology to Pakistan could lead to misuse by terrorist groups. Belgium accepted India’s position and confirmed no security technology would reach Islamabad.
Pakistan Pursuing Defence Pact Despite No Current Deal
Belgium currently has no defence agreement with Pakistan. However, sources indicated that Islamabad has been actively trying to secure one. India had earlier issued a similar warning to Japan during its defence minister’s visit to New Delhi.
Strategic Importance of India’s Defence Sector
Francken emphasized that Belgium has a direct security interest in the expansion of India’s defence-industrial base. He stated that a stronger Indian military capability would bring stability to South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. Francken also noted that India serves as a crucial strategic balancer against China’s growing influence in Asia.
Joint Development and Industrial Cooperation
Defence Minister of State Sanjay Seth urged Belgian defence companies to collaborate with Indian manufacturers. He called for joint development and production of specific defence products combining India’s manufacturing capacity with Belgium’s technical expertise. Both ministers agreed to expand bilateral ties through regular defence dialogues, exchange visits, training programmes and capacity-building initiatives.
10 Pacts Signed Across Multiple Sectors
The 10 agreements cover a wide range of areas including defence technology, industrial partnerships and strategic consultations. The visit marks a significant step forward in India-Belgium relations as both nations look to deepen security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
