India and Belgium Discuss Joint Counter-Terrorism Working Group During Modi Visit
During a two-day visit to India, Prime Minister Bart De Wever met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The leaders expressed solidarity over the Pahalgam terror incident that killed 26 people and pledged a global approach to combat terrorism. They proposed creating a Belgium-India Joint Working Group to deepen cooperation on security threats. The talks also covered defence, trade, investment and other areas of bilateral cooperation.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, on his first official trip to India since taking office, held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Both leaders condemned the 2025 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, and reaffirmed that terrorism in any form is unacceptable. They announced plans to examine the formation of a Belgium-India Joint Working Group focused on counter-terrorism and the fight against cross-border threats.
The discussion also touched on broader bilateral issues, including defence, trade, investment, innovation, semiconductors, fintech, critical minerals and people-to-people ties. Memoranda of understanding were signed on defence, renewable energy, crime fighting and diplomatic training, and both sides pledged to double trade over the next five years. Officials such as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and MEA officials attended the meeting.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 2h later
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage spotlights a new India-Belgium counter-terrorism working group and condemnation of the Pahalgam attack, while centrist and right-leaning coverage centre on defence, clean-energy deals and criticism of protectionist tariffs, with the right framing the visit as a rebuke of Trump’s trade policy.
LEFT
Frames the visit as a security-focused partnership, highlighting a joint counter-terrorism working group and condemnation of terrorism.
CENTER
Frames the visit as a broad strategic partnership, emphasizing defence cooperation, clean-energy projects and remarks on economic dependencies and protectionism.
RIGHT
Frames the visit as a platform to criticize protectionist tariff policies, notably targeting Trump’s “arbitrary” tariffs.
The left emphasises
- announce plans for a Belgium-India Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism
- condemn the 2025 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir
- mention broader bilateral issues such as defence, trade, investment, innovation, semiconductors, fintech, critical minerals and people-to-people ties
The right emphasises
- characterise De Wever’s remarks as a swipe at Trump’s “arbitrary” tariffs
- stress the need for open markets and criticize protectionist trade policies
