Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has issued a candid admission, acknowledging that Europe, and Western nations more broadly, had overlooked critical warnings from India regarding China's aggressive economic strategy and market play. Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event in New Delhi on September 4, De Wever stated that Europe is now experiencing a "rude awakening" as it confronts significant market imbalances, widespread dumping of goods, and severe supply chain vulnerabilities.
De Wever directly credited Indian leadership for its foresight in identifying the risks associated with market distortions and an over-reliance on Beijing. "India saw this earlier than we did...they warned us. And we didn't listen," he remarked, recalling that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally cautioned European leaders about these strategic risks. "We're listening now," De Wever affirmed.
Addressing Geopolitical and Economic Dependencies
The Belgian Prime Minister underscored the serious implications of unchecked global trade dependencies, noting how critical economic ties can be weaponized by foreign powers to exert geopolitical pressure. To mitigate these systemic threats, De Wever called for a rapid and decisive push to finalize the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He described the FTA as an essential framework for building long-term economic resilience between the two regions.
Key areas for immediate bilateral cooperation outlined by De Wever include:
- Critical minerals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Semiconductors
- Green energy
- Advanced technology
- Defense
- Maritime security
By strengthening supply chain integrations and fostering robust economic frameworks, both India and Europe can effectively anchor a stable, rules-based global order amid increasing protectionism and global economic fragmentation.
Deepening Strategic Ties and Defence Cooperation
Reinforcing efforts to secure supply chains and deepen strategic relationships, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever also oversaw the signing of several pacts to expand bilateral defense cooperation on September 3. These agreements signal a concerted commitment from both nations to insulate their economies from market disruptions and geopolitical friction.
During their bilateral discussions in New Delhi, the leaders identified critical minerals, semiconductors, high technology, and trade and investment as foundational pillars for enhancing resilience against an increasingly fragmented global order. Modi emphasized that deep economic partnerships across critical supply chains are vital for sustained stability, with the new agreements focusing on establishing joint initiatives in emerging technology sectors and strengthening industrial and security frameworks between India and Belgium.