New Delhi: India and Belgium are set to strengthen their military-to-military engagement with both countries planning to appoint Defence Attachés at their respective embassies in the coming months, Belgian Defence Minister and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken said.
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The move comes amid a rapid expansion in India-Belgium defence cooperation, including new defence-industrial agreements and efforts to build deeper collaboration between companies from both countries.
The appointment of Defence Attachés could provide a dedicated institutional channel for coordinating military relations, defence-industry engagement and future cooperation.
The development follows recent India-Belgium discussions in which both sides reviewed the broader defence relationship and agreed to expand defence-industrial cooperation. Eight contracts between defence companies from the two countries have also been announced as part of the growing partnership.
This is particularly significant as India increasingly seeks to build defence relationships around technology, co-development, co-production and industrial partnerships, rather than conventional procurement alone.
Francken also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Belgium by the end of 2026, adding another high-level political layer to the rapidly developing relationship.
The expected visit comes after Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's India visit, during which the two countries expanded cooperation across defence, trade, technology and strategic sectors.
The Defence Attaché appointments indicate that India-Belgium defence relations are moving from periodic high-level engagements towards a more structured and sustained military relationship.
For India, Belgium offers access to specialised European defence technologies and industrial capabilities. For Belgium, closer engagement with India's expanding defence manufacturing ecosystem creates opportunities for technology partnerships and access to India's large industrial base.
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