India and Belgium sign defence-industrial pacts to deepen cooperation

India and Belgium signed multiple memorandums of understanding and contracts to deepen defence-industrial cooperation, leveraging Belgian technology with Indian skill and scale, announced Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday. The agreements were signed during a meeting between Singh and Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken in New Delhi, though specific details were not immediately disclosed. The two sides agreed to expand defence dialogue, high-level visits, training, and capacity-building, while also discussing regional peace and maritime security collaboration in the Indo-Pacific. Francken is accompanying Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on his official visit to India from September 2-4, with the new agreements aimed at exploring deeper industrial cooperation between the two nations.