India, Belgium Launch First Strategic Dialogue to Boost Defense and Tech Ties

India and Belgium on Wednesday inaugurated their first-ever Strategic Dialogue in Brussels, conducting a thorough review of bilateral cooperation across vital sectors, including semiconductors, clean energy, defence, trade, investment, supply chain security, and mobility.

According to a formal statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this landmark session represents a major leap forward in structuring a more comprehensive, systematic bilateral relationship. 

Operating within the wider framework of the India-European Union Strategic Partnership, the dialogue will offer a consistent, action-oriented platform for ongoing political engagement.

The opening session was co-led by India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, and Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, Maxime Prévot.

Reflecting on their growing ties, Deputy Prime Minister Prévot highlighted the commercial synergy between the two nations, noting, "The Belgian Economic Mission of March 2025 demonstrated the strength and dynamism of the economic ties between our two countries. Trade, investment and innovation continue to bring our two countries closer together and provide a solid foundation for future cooperation."

Jaishankar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the strategic value Belgium holds for India's foreign policy. 

He observed, "Belgium occupies a special place in India's engagement with Europe. As our bilateral partnership grows in depth and the India-EU relationship acquires greater strategic importance, this Strategic Dialogue will enable us to build on our complementarities and deliver tangible outcomes for our two countries and for our wider cooperation with Europe."

Later, sharing his thoughts on X, the External Affairs Minister underscored the elevated scope of the talks, writing: "Co-chaired with DPM & FM Maxime Prevot the inaugural India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue in Brussels today. Our partnership has witnessed significant deepening in recent years. Today's discussions reflected the ambition of India's ties with Belgium and the European Union."

The MEA detailed that both delegations agreed to scale up collaborative efforts in trade, technological innovation, connectivity, defense, regional security, global matters, and cultural exchanges. 

This newly established dialogue will be sustained through regular high-level ministerial interactions. Both sides noted that upcoming high-profile visits scheduled for later this year will serve as crucial opportunities to turn these shared goals into practical, real-world outcomes.

To help transition this diplomatic momentum into commercial growth, the dialogue's launch was paired with the India-EU Business Forum at the Federation of Belgian Enterprises (FEB). 

This business-centric gathering focused on translating political goodwill into tangible trade opportunities, especially against the backdrop of ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

The forum was attended by Jaishankar, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of State Jitin Prasada, Flanders Minister-President Matthias Diependaele and Wallonia Minister-President Adrien Dolimont. 

Concluding its brief, the MEA reasserted that India and Belgium have solidified their joint commitment to an ambitious, resilient, and future-ready partnership designed to adapt to a changing international landscape.

Source: ANI