India and Belgium Review Defence Cooperation; Rajnath Singh Meets Belgian Counterpart Theo Francken in New Delhi
In an official press release issued on September 3, 2026, the Ministry of Defence announced that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired a high-level bilateral defence meeting with the Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade of Belgium, Theo Francken, in New Delhi. The meeting took place on the sidelines of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's official visit to India, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
During the comprehensive interaction, both leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral defence cooperation and defence-industrial partnerships. They agreed to expand ties through structured defence dialogues, high-level delegation visits, joint training exercises, and institutional capacity building. Strategic issues surrounding regional peace and global security were also discussed, with both ministers emphasizing the critical need for enhanced maritime security collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.
Rajnath Singh highlighted the immense potential for collaboration between Indian and Belgian defence manufacturing industries, inviting Belgian enterprises to participate in India's growing defence ecosystem under the Make in India initiative. The Belgian delegation assured India that Brussels values its strategic partnership with New Delhi, reiterating shared commitments to democratic values, mutual trust, and international stability. The meeting underscores India's proactive diplomatic engagement to diversify its global defence alliances and boost domestic manufacturing capabilities.
