India and Belgium have agreed to significantly expand military and defence-industrial cooperation, including training, officer exchanges, joint research and potential co-production of weapons and military equipment, during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's three-day official visit to India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with De Wever in New Delhi on Thursday, describing defence and security as a “key pillar” of the relationship. De Wever's visit, from September 2 to 4, is the first by a Belgian prime minister to India in nearly two decades.
The two countries signed a Letter of Intent between their defence ministries establishing a framework for regular military exchanges, staff talks, education and training, research cooperation and defence-industrial partnerships. The agreement builds on discussions between the two defence ministers in March 2025 aimed at institutionalising bilateral defence ties.
“Today, we have agreed to enhance military exchanges and training cooperation between the two countries,” Modi said. “Agreements reached between our governments and defence industries will open up new opportunities for defence co-development and co-production.”
The defence partnership is already moving beyond government-to-government engagement. Indian and Belgian companies signed a series of agreements covering ammunition, rockets, mine warfare and other military technologies, with an emphasis on combining Belgian technology with India's expanding defence-manufacturing base.
India also showcased the Zorawar light tank to the Belgian delegation. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Larsen & Toubro, the roughly 25-tonne tank has been designed for rapid deployment and operations in high-altitude terrain, including mountainous areas along India's northern borders.
Belgian Defence and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken, who accompanied De Wever, separately met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The discussions focused on expanding defence-industrial partnerships and identifying opportunities for companies from the two countries to jointly manufacture military equipment.
The new framework also includes cooperation in maritime security and emerging military technologies. Belgium's frigate Leopold I is scheduled to visit India from November 5 to 8, while India's College of Defence Management will send a study delegation to Belgium in October. The Belgian Defence College also intends to organise its 2027 World Study Trip in India.
The two countries also agreed to strengthen intelligence sharing and law-enforcement cooperation. A separate agreement between India's Central Bureau of Investigation and Belgium's Federal Police will facilitate information sharing and cooperation against transnational organised crime and cybercrime.
The defence push forms part of a broader expansion of India-Belgium ties covering trade, semiconductors, critical minerals, renewable energy, ports and technology. Modi and De Wever also agreed to work towards doubling bilateral trade over the next five years.
The agreements reflect India's wider effort to diversify defence partnerships in Europe while expanding domestic production through foreign technology partnerships, with New Delhi increasingly emphasising co-development and manufacturing in India rather than relying solely on imports.
