Addressing the India-Belgium High-Level Dialogue on Friday, De Wever drew knowing laughter from the audience when he suggested his description of erratic trade shifts was self-evident. The Prime Minister, who took office in February 2025, framed the current global climate as one of fragmentation and uncertainty. He contrasted these volatile tactics with structural market manipulation, advocating instead for the predictability of rules-based commerce. During his three-day visit, De Wever championed the India-EU free trade agreement as a vital tool for economic resilience, describing the pact as the “mother of all deals.”
Beyond trade, the visit signaled a deepening of diplomatic ties. De Wever praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a uniquely inspiring world leader, noting that while much of the current geopolitical landscape feels threatening, the Indian leader offers a sense of stability. The trip yielded concrete outcomes, including a target to double bilateral trade within five years and a new Letter of Intent on defence cooperation. Accompanied by Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Theo Francken, De Wever emphasized that Belgium’s ports remain the essential foundation for the fair, open trade he hopes to secure against global coercion.
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