Belgium has assured India that it will not provide defence cooperation or military technology to Pakistan, government sources said after talks between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Belgium’s Defence Minister Theo Francken in New Delhi.
Singh raised concerns about Belgian defence technology potentially being shared with Pakistan during the meeting. Francken reassured him that Belgium supports India and has no plans for such cooperation.
This assurance is significant as India has been worried about other countries transferring defence technologies to Pakistan, which could boost its military strength.
The two ministers discussed expanding defence and industrial cooperation through dialogues, high-level visits, training, and capacity-building. They also talked about regional security and the need for stronger maritime collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. Both agreed that their partnership is based on shared values and trust.
The meeting took place during talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who is visiting India. Earlier, Francken and Indian defence officials addressed a roundtable with industry leaders from both countries, focusing on opportunities for collaboration in areas like maritime security and aerospace.
Singh encouraged Belgian companies to partner with India’s defence sector, leveraging their technology expertise with India’s manufacturing capabilities. He highlighted India’s progress in becoming self-reliant in defence production under initiatives like Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Make in India.
The discussions aim to boost India-Belgium defence ties, focusing on advanced technologies and industrial partnerships.