New Delhi: Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has acknowledged that Europe failed to heed earlier warnings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the dangers of excessive strategic and economic dependence on major powers. Speaking during his India visit, De Wever highlighted Europe’s growing vulnerability as Chinese industrial competition and dependence on external partners expose weaknesses in the continent’s economic and strategic autonomy.
The Belgian leader’s remarks come amid a broader push for stronger India-Europe cooperation. India and Belgium have agreed to deepen collaboration in defence, semiconductors, critical minerals, clean energy, technology and trade, while also seeking to strengthen supply-chain resilience.
Europe’s Dependency Problem
De Wever said Europe is experiencing a “wake-up call” after years of building deep economic dependencies. He indicated that economic relationships can become vulnerabilities when strategic supplies and industrial capacity are concentrated in a small number of countries.
His comments were widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of China’s trade practices and the impact of low-cost Chinese goods on European industries. European policymakers are increasingly debating how to protect domestic manufacturing while maintaining open international trade.
The Belgian prime minister has also previously warned that Europe is falling behind the United States and China in areas such as innovation and productivity, while facing difficulties in ensuring its own defence capabilities.
India Emerges as a Strategic Partner
De Wever’s remarks coincide with a significant expansion of India-Belgium ties. During his official visit from September 2–4, he met PM Modi for talks covering bilateral and international issues.
The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in defence, trade, critical minerals, semiconductors and clean energy. They also set an objective of doubling bilateral trade over the next five years and announced measures intended to facilitate Belgian investment in India.
Defence cooperation is another emerging pillar. India and Belgium are working toward greater collaboration in military technology, maritime security, drones, research and development and advanced defence systems.
A New India-Europe Equation
The Belgian PM’s comments underline a broader geopolitical shift: Europe is increasingly looking to diversify its economic and strategic partnerships rather than relying excessively on any single external power.
For India, the development offers an opportunity to position itself as a reliable partner in technology, manufacturing, critical minerals, defence and resilient supply chains.
The India-Belgium joint statement also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between India and Europe in addressing shared global challenges.
