Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Belgium Assures India on Pakistan as Defence Deals Advance
India and Belgium are trying to work more closely on defence equipment.
India asked Belgium not to share sensitive defence technology with Pakistan.
India says it is worried about military cooperation with Pakistan because it accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorism across its border.
Belgium’s defence minister gave India an assurance about avoiding defence cooperation with Pakistan.
The discussion happened during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s visit to India.
The two countries also worked on several defence agreements.
One project would build a factory in India that can make about 100 million rounds of ammunition each year.
Other projects involve equipment for finding naval mines and making rockets.
The first fully Indian-made rocket in one project is expected in early 2027.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken assured India that Belgium would not pursue defence cooperation with Pakistan, according to Indian officials.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh raised concerns about transferring sensitive technology to Pakistan during talks in New Delhi.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited India with Francken and a large industrial delegation.
India and Belgium advanced agreements covering ammunition, mine-countermeasure systems, rockets, radar, sensors and counter-drone technology.
Projects include a €50 million ammunition production line, autonomous mine-hunting systems and Indian-made 70mm rockets expected in early 2027.
- Who
- Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever were the principal participants.
- What
- India and Belgium advanced defence cooperation while Belgium assured India it would not pursue defence engagement with Pakistan or share sensitive technology with it, according to Indian officials.
- When
- The talks and agreement signings took place on Thursday during De Wever’s visit to India.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- India wants European partners to consider its concerns about military cooperation and sensitive technology transfers involving Pakistan, which India accuses of backing cross-border terrorism.
India’s Concerns
Belgium’s Assurance and Engagement
Military cooperation with Pakistan
India’s Concerns
India urged Belgium to avoid military cooperation with Pakistan and to keep sensitive defence technology from reaching Pakistan, citing concerns over cross-border terrorism and technology transfers.
Belgium’s Assurance and Engagement
Francken assured India that Belgium would not pursue defence cooperation with Pakistan while he remained defence minister, according to Indian officials.
Future defence partnership
India’s Concerns
Singh said India’s relationship with Belgium could expand during a period of geopolitical and economic turmoil, while stressing that India’s sensitivities must be respected.
Belgium’s Assurance and Engagement
Belgium accompanied the visit with an industrial delegation and advanced cooperation in weapon systems, ammunition, radar, sensors, command and control, counter-drone systems and other defence fields.
- Belgian assurance
- Francken told Singh that, while he remained Belgium’s defence minister, there would be no cooperation with Pakistan, according to an Indian source cited by The Times of India.
- Defence framework
- India and Belgium signed a defence framework agreement.
- Industry memorandum
- The Belgian Security and Defence Industry and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers signed a memorandum of understanding.
- Ammunition project
- New Lachaussée is to supply Tembo Classic Engineering with a production line capable of producing about 100 million rounds annually.
- Ammunition investment
- The New Lachaussée project is valued at €50 million.
- Mine-countermeasure systems
- Exail Belgium will provide autonomous mine-countermeasure toolboxes for vessels being built by Larsen & Toubro; the first phase covers 12 ships.
- Rocket production
- Thales Belgium will assemble 70mm rockets in India with Kalyani Strategic Systems, with the first fully Indian-made rocket expected in early 2027.
