India, Belgium call for end to conflicts in West Asia, Ukraine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for dialogue and diplomacy to bring the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia to a stop. Mr. Modi made the remarks while welcoming Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever at the Hyderabad House, where the two sides ramped up bilateral defence cooperation by signing three government-level defence agreements. Belgian sources informed that at least 10 private defence agreements will be sealed during the visit that will include production of Belgian military items such as rockets in India.

“Whether it is Ukraine or West Asia, we support all efforts aimed at an early end to conflicts and the restoration of peace. And eliminating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is our shared commitment,” said Mr. Modi in his remarks after he and Mr. De Wever discussed global and regional issues. The two leaders also paid tributes to the more than 9,000 Indian soldiers who perished in the Flanders Fields during the First World War. A Joint Statement issued at the end of the discussions announced that the two leaders called for “safety and security of maritime routes and maintaining safe and unimpeded maritime shipping” in the context of the conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine. The Belgian dignitary expressed support to India’s campaign against cross-border terrorism and condemned the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.

Calls for free trade

In his remarks at an event organised by the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), the Belgian leader described the current global situation as “turbulent” and called for free trade and end to unilateral imposition of tariffs.  The two governments signed a Letter of Intent of Defence Cooperation, an MoU between Belgian Security and Defence Industry (BDSI) and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), and an MoU between the Central Bureau of Investigation and Belgium Federal Police on Cooperation in Combating Transnational Organised Crime, Cybercrime and related matters.

“Our security does not stop at our borders. That is why we need to work more closely with strong partners such as India — militarily, technologically and industrially,” said Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken, who described India as a “rapidly growing economy” and “a major military power in the Indo-Pacific”. On this occasion, India announced that a Defence Attache will be appointed at the Indian Embassy in Brussels. The visit included defence partnerships between Belgian and Indian defence majors. Accordingly, Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems have partnered to produce Belgium’s 70 mm rockets for India. The Indian defence sector will also gain access to Belgian drones such as ‘Saboteur’ and ‘Buzzkill’ and ‘Hitchhikker’ interceptors. A Joint Statement announced that Belgium will send its Frigate LEOPOLD to India from November 5-8, 2026 and the Belgian Defence College will carry out a study tour to India later this year.

Greater exchanges

“Today, India and Europe are speaking the language of trade with renewed conviction, a language of peace, of progress and of prosperity,” said Mr. De Wever explaining, “Free and fair trade brings peace, progress and prosperity.” The Belgian Prime Minister pitched for greater exchanges between his country and India as Belgium is strategically placed to serve as an important European partner of India within the larger framework of India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The two sides announced the establishment of a fast trade mechanism that will deal with trade and investment and announced that bilateral trade will be doubled in the next five years. They also announced the establishment of Consular Dialogue between New Delhi and Brussels.

The case of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi also received attention during the visit as Mr. Choksi was arrested by Belgium last year. Speaking to the media on the visit of the Belgian delegates, Secretary (West) Sibi George on Thursday said the Government of India remained committed to repatriation of fugitives from foreign custody. “Law enforcement cooperation is a very important topic of discussion and also a very important aspect of our relationship with Belgium. All issues of concern and interest are discussed at all levels of our engagement,” Mr. George said.