Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on 3 September declared that India has evolved into the world's largest democracy, its fastest-growing major economy, and an influential geopolitical force whose reach extends well beyond the subcontinent — remarks made at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi following bilateral talks. De Wever's visit marked the first by a Belgian head of government to India in 20 years.

A Long-Overdue Visit

Acknowledging the two-decade gap, De Wever described his trip as both personally and diplomatically significant. 'It is too long,' he said plainly, adding that the interval made the visit all the more meaningful. As a citizen of Antwerp, he noted a personal dimension to finally arriving in India, while stressing that the country he encountered bore little resemblance to the one his predecessors last engaged with.

'In those 20 years, India has changed enormously, and certainly in the period of the leadership of Prime Minister Modi,' De Wever said, crediting the transformation to the sustained direction set under Modi's tenure.

India as a Global Powerhouse

De Wever was unambiguous in framing India's current standing. 'Today, you are not only the world's largest democracy but also the fastest-growing major economy, which has become an economic and technological powerhouse and a major geopolitical factor whose voice carries way beyond this region,' he said. He positioned this rising stature as the core reason Belgium views India as an increasingly indispensable partner.

De Wever also made the case for reciprocity, noting that Belgium — though far smaller in scale — ranks among the world's most open and internationally connected economies, with prosperity built on trade and global market access. This framing positions the bilateral not as a patron-client relationship but as a partnership of complementary strengths.

Defence Cooperation and the Letter of Intent

Security cooperation featured prominently in the talks. Belgian Defence and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken accompanied the delegation, signalling the seriousness with which Brussels approaches defence-industrial ties. The two sides exchanged a letter of intent covering government-to-government contacts, military exchanges, research, innovation, co-development, and, potentially, co-production.

'The exchange of the letter of intent we have just witnessed gives that cooperation a new framework,' De Wever said. This comes amid a broader global trend of democracies deepening defence supply chains outside traditional blocs.

EU-India Free Trade Agreement: A Historic Milestone

De Wever called the conclusion of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement a 'major milestone' after nearly 20 years of negotiations. He expressed Belgium's commitment to ensuring the pact translates into concrete outcomes for citizens and businesses, citing improved market access, investment flows, and long-term regulatory predictability.

The formal signing is expected to take place in Belgium before the end of 2026, with De Wever extending an invitation for Prime Minister Modi to visit Brussels in December for the occasion. 'After almost twenty years of negotiations, India and Europe have chosen to bring our economies closer together at a time when economic fragmentation is increasing elsewhere. This is an important signal to the world,' he said.

Condolences and the Road Ahead

De Wever also offered condolences to families of Indian nationals killed in the devastating flash floods that struck Nepal on 26 August, acknowledging the tragedy in the context of regional solidarity.

Concluding on a forward-looking note, the Belgian PM said he came to New Delhi convinced that the best of the India-Belgium relationship lies ahead — and left even more certain of it after the day's talks. The Modi visit to Brussels in December, if confirmed, would represent a high-visibility capstone to a year of renewed bilateral momentum.