NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Belgium’s Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Theo Francken on Thursday reviewed the full range of bilateral defence and industrial cooperation, agreeing to expand engagement through structured dialogue, high-level visits, training and capacity building.
The bilateral talks were held in New Delhi on September 3 and came amid a broader push to deepen defence and industrial ties between India and Belgium.
The two ministers also discussed regional peace and security, including the need for greater cooperation on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, according to the Defence Ministry.
Singh and Francken reiterated that the India-Belgium partnership is founded on shared values, mutual trust and respect, and agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation through sustained institutional engagement.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in New Delhi.
The discussions covered both military-to-military engagement and wider industrial cooperation, with training and capacity building identified as areas for greater bilateral collaboration.
The latest engagement comes as India continues to expand defence partnerships with European countries, with greater emphasis on technology, industrial cooperation and building capabilities through international partnerships.
The two sides are expected to pursue the agreed areas of cooperation through existing bilateral mechanisms, including defence cooperation dialogue and exchanges at senior levels.
