Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has described his meeting with Belgium’s Defence Minister Theo Francken as “very productive”, highlighting continued efforts to strengthen bilateral defence and industrial cooperation between India and Belgium.

Singh’s remarks came after his engagement with the Belgian defence leadership. The meeting assumes significance as India seeks to expand defence partnerships with European countries and strengthen cooperation in areas including defence manufacturing, investment and maritime security.

India-Belgium Defence Engagement

India and Belgium have been exploring opportunities to deepen defence cooperation, including greater engagement in the maritime domain and the defence industrial sector.

Singh had earlier met Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken in New Delhi in March 2025 during Princess Astrid’s visit to India. At that meeting, the two sides discussed the possibility of defence engagements in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the maritime domain, as well as ways to strengthen defence-industrial cooperation. (Press Information Bureau)

Focus on Defence Industry

India has been encouraging foreign defence companies to invest in the country and integrate Indian manufacturers into global supply chains. During the earlier India-Belgium discussions, Singh welcomed Belgian investment in India's defence sector and suggested that Belgian companies could expand their presence in India.

The approach is aligned with India's broader push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing and its objective of becoming a larger exporter of defence equipment.

Maritime Cooperation

Maritime security remains an important area of potential cooperation between India and Belgium. Discussions between the two countries have included the possibility of defence engagement in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the maritime sector. (Press Information Bureau)

The importance of maritime capabilities has also increased as India seeks to strengthen its role as a security partner in the wider Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.

India’s Defence Export Push

Singh has repeatedly emphasised the need to increase India's defence exports and strengthen domestic manufacturing. The government has set a target of raising defence exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029-30.

According to the Ministry of Defence, India's defence production reached approximately ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, while defence exports rose to a record ₹38,424 crore. The government has linked the growth in production and exports with its broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. (Press Information Bureau)

Belgium Partnership Gains Importance

Belgium is an important European partner for India, with bilateral engagement extending beyond defence to trade, investment, technology and other sectors.

Recent India-EU discussions have also included defence-industrial cooperation, with India seeking greater collaboration with European partners in emerging areas such as counter-drone technologies and electronic warfare. (Press Information Bureau)

‘Very Productive’ Meeting

Singh's description of the latest meeting as “very productive” signals India's continuing interest in expanding defence ties with Belgium.

Further cooperation could provide opportunities for Indian and Belgian companies to work together in defence manufacturing, technology and supply chains, while strengthening the broader strategic relationship between the two countries.

Pete Hegseth praises India’s military modernisation and deeper US-India defence ties at Shangri-La Dialogue

India a strategic anchor

India has emerged as “a key pillar of regional stability,” US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Saturday at the Shangri‑La Dialogue, praising New Delhi’s rapid military modernisation and expanding defence cooperation with Washington. The remarks, made on the second day of the security summit, underscored growing US recognition of India’s role in balancing power across the Indo‑Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

Why India matters now
“In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line,” Hegseth told delegates in the morning session, according to an official readout. He argued that a stronger India acting in its own strategic interest helps advance shared goals of deterrence and regional balance, particularly as countries face more complex maritime and territorial security challenges.

Growing military strength
Hegseth highlighted India’s modernisation drive, saying New Delhi is building the capabilities needed “to carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean.” He pointed to improvements across platforms and logistics and noted India’s expanding ability to sustain high‑end operations — a shift that US officials say reduces single‑point dependencies in the region.

Defence industrial base expands
The US defence chief emphasised India’s growing defence‑industrial capacity, including infrastructure to repair and maintain complex platforms. “It’s building out the heavy industrial and logistics capacity to sustain high‑end military operations, including the ability to repair and maintain our shared platforms and support US Navy vessels operating forward in the theatre,” Hegseth said.

Co-production and interoperability
Washington and New Delhi are also deepening practical cooperation, Hegseth said. He named joint production initiatives as an area of focus and referenced plans for co-production of systems such as Javelin anti‑tank guided munitions. “Real, tangible steps to improve the collective readiness of our forces,” he added, reflecting wider Pentagon efforts to boost interoperability with partner militaries.

Regional context and concerns
Hegseth framed the Indo‑Pacific as the world’s most consequential region and urged partners to strengthen defence preparedness. The comments came amid heightened attention to great‑power competition in Asia and follow a string of diplomatic and military moves by regional actors. “No single nation should be allowed to dominate the region,” he said, referencing broader US strategic aims without naming specific countries.

US defence investment push
The Defence Secretary used the platform to outline an ambitious expansion of American defence spending and manufacturing. He described a “historic national manufacturing mobilisation” to produce weapons at scale and speed. Citing the administration’s planned budget increases, Hegseth said the US would invest heavily to expand what he called “America’s arsenal of freedom” and to sustain military readiness over coming decades.

Ground reactions and implications
Analysts at the summit said Hegseth’s tone reflected a pragmatic US turn toward partnerships rather than unilateral commitments. For India, closer operational ties and co‑production deals could accelerate technology transfers and bolster indigenous defence firms — a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

What comes next
Officials familiar with the matter said both sides expect more joint exercises, logistics agreements, and co‑development projects to be announced over the next year. Observers will watch for details on basing access, ship repair arrangements in Indian ports, and progress on specific co‑production contracts, which could signal deeper operational integration.

Why it matters to India
For New Delhi, enhanced cooperation offers tools to safeguard maritime trade routes, deter coercion, and modernise its forces without sole dependence on any single external supplier. For the broader region, US‑India convergence strengthens the network of partnerships Washington is building to preserve a rules‑based order in the Indo‑Pacific.