NEW DELHI, Mar 4: On Tuesday, Belgium announced its intention to solidify a comprehensive defense agreement with India and will soon designate a military attaché to its embassy in New Delhi as part of efforts to enhance bilateral strategic relations.
This announcement followed a meeting between Belgium’s Princess Astrid, accompanied by Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot and Defence Minister Theo Francken, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Princess Astrid is heading an Economic Mission to India, which includes prominent ministers and business leaders.
“I deeply appreciate her initiative to lead a 300-member Economic Mission to India,” Modi expressed on X.
“I look forward to exploring limitless opportunities for our people through new partnerships in trade, technology, defense, agriculture, life sciences, innovation, skill development, and academic exchanges,” he added.
At a press conference, Defence Minister Francken emphasized the significant potential for expanding India-Belgium defense collaboration, indicating that both nations aim to establish a framework to strengthen ties.
“Your Prime Minister requested us to set up a task force here in New Delhi and in Brussels to finalise the agreement by the year’s end,” he stated.
“This represents a substantial step forward as we currently lack structured cooperation,” Francken noted, adding that such a framework would promote defense industrial collaboration.
Alongside Foreign Minister Prevot, Francken announced that Belgium would soon appoint a defense attaché at its New Delhi embassy to serve as a central point of contact for the Indian military and defense sector.
“Both nations must develop their defense capabilities and learn from each other to produce high-quality military equipment and remain resilient,” Francken asserted.
“Peace through strength—that’s the new message we wish to convey,” he highlighted.
Francken mentioned that Belgian defense company John Cockerill Defence is participating in the Indian Army’s bid for approximately 300 light tanks.
In his comments, Prevot indirectly referenced the evolving policies of the new US administration.
“Times are changing, and we must strengthen ties between Belgium and a robust democracy like India,” he remarked.
Prevot observed that the Belgian delegation did not specifically address the US-Ukraine situation with Modi, although he acknowledged that the Prime Minister is aware of the concerns faced by Europe and Belgium regarding current issues in the region.
“The times are complicated and ever-changing… The US has been a strong ally of Belgium and will continue to be,” he affirmed.
However, he noted that the situation is no longer the same.
“We must remain flexible and united—that’s the message we’ve conveyed across the EU. This necessitates the development of our own strategic autonomy, particularly in the defense sector,” he explained.
The Belgian Foreign Minister reaffirmed his country’s support for Ukraine.
“We stand with the Ukrainian people. There is an aggressor and a victim, and it is unacceptable for global powers to equate the two nations,” he stated.
The conflict in Ukraine gained renewed attention following intense exchanges between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House Oval Office last Friday, drawing significant global interest.
Europe has expressed strong backing for Zelenskyy in light of the unprecedented events that unfolded in the Oval Office. (Agencies)
