Europe heeds Modi's warning late, Belgian PM says

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Friday that Europe was slow to recognize risks of economic over-dependence, admitting India's PM Narendra Modi had warned about this long ago but was ignored, and that Europe is now listening. Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry event during his two-day India visit, De Wever said Europe and India face similar challenges as dependencies become "weaponised." He called India the most important partner for Europe among multilateralism-believing nations, citing "respect and not force" as the basis for cooperation. In an apparent reference to China, De Wever said Europe seeks to reduce dependence on "big economical powerhouses" moving away from rules-based cooperation. Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said the India-EU FTA offers huge potential for both sides, protecting sensitive sectors.