Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever arrived in India on Wednesday, 2 September for a three-day official visit — his first since assuming office in February last year. The visit, anchored by a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, is aimed at deepening ties across trade, defence, renewable energy, and technology, as well as advancing the broader India-EU relationship.

Key Agenda and Bilateral Talks

De Wever and Modi are scheduled to meet on Thursday, where both leaders are expected to cover the full spectrum of bilateral relations alongside regional and global issues of mutual concern. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken is also part of the visiting delegation, signalling the centrality of security cooperation to this engagement.

De Wever is additionally slated to deliver a keynote address at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) business event focused on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The FTA has been a long-running negotiation, and Belgium — as a key EU member — holds influence over its trajectory.

Mumbai Leg: Diamonds, Ports, and Logistics

After concluding engagements in New Delhi, De Wever will travel to Mumbai, where he will meet stakeholders from the diamond, ports, and logistics sectors. The diamond trade has historically been a cornerstone of India-Belgium commerce, with Antwerp serving as a global hub for rough diamond processing and India's Surat dominating polished stone output.

Strategic Dialogue and Jaishankar's Brussels Visit

The visit builds on diplomatic momentum established last month, when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prevot co-chaired the inaugural India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue in Brussels on 15 July. Jaishankar described the talks as reflecting 'the ambition of India's ties with Belgium, and the European Union.'

The two ministers reviewed cooperation in political, economic, investment, clean energy, defence, mobility, and pharmaceutical domains. They also identified emerging opportunities in ports, maritime, semiconductors, and supply chain de-risking — areas that align with India's broader industrial strategy.

Historical Ties and India's UNSC Bid

Belgium was among the first European nations to establish diplomatic ties with independent India, doing so in September 1947. The bilateral relationship is grounded in shared commitments to the rule of law, federalism, and pluralism, according to the Indian Embassy in Brussels. Notably, Belgium supports India's bid for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) — a diplomatic alignment that adds weight to the partnership beyond trade.

This comes amid a wider Indian push to strengthen ties with European partners as New Delhi diversifies its strategic partnerships. With the India-EU FTA still under negotiation, De Wever's visit carries both symbolic and substantive significance for the next phase of engagement.