Zaheer ahmad cni
Minister of Defence & Foreign Trade of Belgium Mr Theo Francken has emphasised the strong potential for deeper industrial collaboration between India and Belgium to strengthen the defence forces
through collective efforts, with Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth urging Belgian defence manufacturers to leverage their technological expertise alongside India’s manufacturing scale for co-development & co-production of niche products for shared security and prosperity.
The two Ministers graced the India-Belgium Defence CEOs Roundtable and B2B Meetings in New Delhi on September 03, 2026. The event was attended by the representatives of the Belgian industry, Confederation of Indian Industry and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers.The Belgium Defence Minister underscored the growing strategic partnership between India and the European Union (EU), highlighting the robust
dialogue structures developing across maritime security, information security and aerospace. He stated that these institutional frameworks have established India as a trusted partner for the EU.Commending the dynamism of Indian entrepreneurs, Mr Theo Francken stressed the need to bolster the two militaries in the evolving security environment through joint efforts. “United we stand, divided we fall,” he
said.Highlighting the strategic transformation of India’s defence manufacturing sector, Raksha Rajya Mantri stated that the nation is decisively moving from import dependence to indigenous capability, trusted partnerships, and global competitiveness through initiatives such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India. “This transformation is outward-facing. Strategic autonomy is best secured through credible, mutually beneficial international collaboration,” he said.Shri Sanjay Seth emphasised that India and Belgium can leverage their strengths and prioritise collaboration in areas including cyber
security, AI-enabled unmanned aerial systems, underwater domain vehicles, and complex weapon systems. He stated that innovation platforms like iDEX and ADITI are engaging start-ups and MSMEs in AI, quantum technologies, military communications, anti-drone systems, and adaptive camouflage, providing “excellent avenues for bilateral R&D and industrialisation”. CNI NEWS