Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday, September 3, during his ongoing official visit to India.

De Wever visited the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi and paid his respects at the national monument dedicated to the Father of the Nation. His visit to Rajghat formed part of his engagements in New Delhi during his first official visit to India since becoming Belgium's prime minister.

De Wever on Official India Visit

The Belgian Prime Minister is visiting India from September 2 to 4 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is accompanied by Belgium's Defence Minister Theo Francken during the three-day visit. (DD News)

The visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between India and Belgium across areas of mutual interest. De Wever is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi, with bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments expected to feature in the discussions.

Tribute at Rajghat

Rajghat is the memorial marking the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated on January 30, 1948. The memorial has become an important destination for visiting foreign leaders paying tribute to Gandhi during their official visits to India.

De Wever's visit carries an additional historical connection with Gandhi. During his earlier tenure as Mayor of Antwerp, De Wever was present when a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was inaugurated near the Palace of Justice in Antwerp in October 2020. The statue was gifted to the city by the Government of India. 

India-Belgium Relations in Focus

The Belgian Prime Minister's visit comes as India and Belgium seek to broaden their partnership beyond traditional areas of engagement.

Defence cooperation is among the sectors receiving attention during the current visit. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has held discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, with both sides reviewing defence relations and defence industrial cooperation. Multiple memoranda of understanding and contracts related to defence industrial cooperation were also signed, according to Singh. (The Tribune)

Defence and Industrial Cooperation

India has been seeking greater collaboration with European partners in defence manufacturing, technology and industrial supply chains. Belgium, meanwhile, has a strong industrial and technological base that can provide opportunities for cooperation with Indian companies.

Rajnath Singh said the discussions with Francken covered the full spectrum of defence relations and defence industrial cooperation between the two countries. He also highlighted the potential to leverage Belgian technology with Indian skills and manufacturing scale. 

Wider Strategic Engagement

The Belgian Prime Minister's visit also provides an opportunity for India and Belgium to discuss broader regional and global developments.

India and Belgium maintain relations across trade, investment, technology, defence and cooperation within the India-European Union framework. The current high-level visit is expected to provide further momentum to these areas of engagement.

First India Visit as Prime Minister

De Wever became Belgium's Prime Minister in February 2025. His September 2026 trip is his first visit to India since assuming office, according to the official visit information reported by DD News. 

His Rajghat visit on September 3 adds a ceremonial dimension to the diplomatic programme and highlights the continuing international recognition of Mahatma Gandhi's legacy.