Kumar Bahukhandi
New Delhi, September 3, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever during the latter’s visit to India. The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, defence, critical minerals, clean energy, semiconductors and other emerging technologies. Photo: Social media
PM Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever agree to deepen cooperation in defence, critical minerals, clean energy, semiconductors and resilient supply chains
Key Highlights
- India and Belgium agree to significantly expand their strategic and economic partnership
- Defence, trade, critical minerals and emerging technologies identified as priority sectors
- Renewable energy agreement expected to strengthen clean-energy cooperation
- Both sides to work together on processing and recycling of critical minerals
- Modi says Belgian expertise and India’s scale can complement each other in semiconductors
- Leaders reiterate support for dialogue and diplomacy to end conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia
- India and Belgium reaffirm commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms
New Delhi: India and Belgium on Thursday agreed to significantly broaden their partnership across trade, defence, critical minerals, clean energy and emerging technologies following wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in New Delhi.
The discussions reflected an effort by the two countries to move their relationship beyond traditional commercial ties towards deeper strategic and technological cooperation, particularly in sectors considered important for future economic and security resilience.
In his remarks following the talks, Modi pointed to India’s economic performance, saying the country had recorded growth of 7.8 per cent in the latest quarter despite continuing uncertainty in the global economy.
“Even in this challenging environment, India’s economy has maintained its momentum. In the last quarter, we have recorded a growth of 7.8 per cent,” Modi said.
He said India’s economic growth was increasingly becoming a source of confidence and new opportunities for the wider world.
Belgian Prime Minister De Wever highlighted the growing importance of India-European Union economic relations and described the conclusion of the India-EU free trade agreement as an important milestone. He said relations between India and Belgium were becoming broader and more strategic.
Technology and Clean Energy Take Centre Stage
Modi said geopolitical conflicts and disruptions affecting food, fuel and global supply chains had reinforced the need for dependable international partnerships.
Clean energy and resilient supply chains figured prominently in the talks. The two sides signed an agreement on renewable energy aimed at giving fresh momentum to bilateral sustainability cooperation.
“A clean energy future and reliable supply chain are our shared priorities,” Modi said.
Critical minerals — increasingly important for semiconductors, renewable-energy systems, electric mobility and advanced manufacturing — emerged as another major area for cooperation. India and Belgium agreed to strengthen collaboration in their processing and recycling.
The two leaders also identified semiconductors as an area in which the strengths of their countries could complement each other.
“In semiconductors, Belgium’s expertise and India’s scale are complementary to each other,” Modi said.
Defence cooperation formed another important component of the discussions. The talks came alongside growing engagement between the defence establishments and industries of the two countries, with both sides exploring opportunities for technology partnerships, manufacturing and industrial collaboration.
On international conflicts, Modi reiterated India’s position that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
“India and Belgium both believe in the rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy. Be it Ukraine or West Asia, we support all efforts for the early end of conflicts and for peace,” he said.
The two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms.
The agreements and discussions during De Wever’s visit indicate an expanding India-Belgium relationship built around trade and investment as well as defence, advanced technology, energy security and resilient global supply chains.
