Archive · 4 Sep 2026
India and Belgium Expand Defence Ties Through Joint Production Plans
India and Belgium want to work more closely on defence.
Their defence ministers, Rajnath Singh and Theo Francken, met in New Delhi on Thursday.
They discussed using Belgian technology together with India’s manufacturing skills and large industrial capacity.
The two countries signed several agreements, including 10 involving their defence industries.
Some plans could lead to Belgian military equipment, such as rockets, being made in India.
They also want to cooperate on training, ships, underwater vehicles, sensors and systems that help stop drones.
Newer areas such as cyber security, artificial intelligence and unmanned systems were also discussed.
Belgium said security problems in Europe and the Indo-Pacific are increasingly connected.
Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh and Theo Francken reviewed military and industrial cooperation in New Delhi on Thursday.
India and Belgium signed multiple MoUs and contracts, including a defence framework pact and 10 industry-level agreements.
The agreements include plans to produce Belgian military hardware, including rockets, in India.
Both sides identified training, capacity building, maritime security and emerging defence technologies as cooperation priorities.
The partnership may cover cyber security, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, underwater robotics, radar, ammunition and counter-drone technology.
- Who
- India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Belgium’s Defence and Trade Minister Theo Francken, along with officials and defence companies from both countries.
- What
- They reviewed defence relations, signed multiple agreements and discussed joint manufacturing, training, capacity building and emerging defence technologies.
- When
- The ministerial talks took place on Thursday; Theo Francken arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday, and a Belgian Defence College study trip is planned for 2027.
- Where
- New Delhi, India; the discussions also concerned maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
- Why
- The countries want to strengthen their strategic partnership, combine Belgian technology with India’s manufacturing capabilities and address shared security concerns involving Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
- Participants
- Rajnath Singh and Theo Francken held delegation-level defence talks in New Delhi.
- Agreements
- Multiple MoUs and contracts were signed; reports specified 10 agreements involving Belgian and Indian defence industries.
- Framework pact
- India and Belgium signed a defence framework agreement following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
- Joint production
- The agreements include possible production of Belgian military hardware, including rockets, in India.
- Industry cooperation
- The Belgian Security and Defence Industry and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers signed a cooperation agreement.
- Participating companies
- Fifteen Belgian defence companies joined the official mission, most represented by their CEOs.
- Future initiatives
- India and Belgium intend to develop an industrial roadmap, while the Belgian Defence College plans a World Study Trip to India in 2027.
