Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has said Europe ignored India’s early warning about economic dependence, and is now confronting the fallout of that choice.
Speaking at an industry federation conference in New Delhi during his visit to India, De Wever said Europe has seen a “serious awakening” in recent years. He pointed to a long period in which markets were flooded with excess production capacity priced below the cost of manufacturing.
According to him, this trend weakened domestic industries and pushed Europe into greater reliance on external suppliers. He added that such dependence can also create conditions where economic ties may be turned into instruments of political pressure.
De Wever said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had cautioned Europe about these risks well in advance, but the warning was not heeded at the time. He noted that Europe is listening now.
In the current period of geopolitical uncertainty, he said Belgium views India as a crucial and reliable partner.
