Dutch Foreign Minister Visits India to Strengthen Bilateral Relations

David van Weel, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, is in New Delhi to enhance bilateral relations with India. His visit includes discussions with key Indian ministers and aims to strengthen cooperation in critical sectors such as technology, trade, and security. The two nations are committed to expanding their partnership, as highlighted by recent high-level meetings and consultations. This visit follows a significant meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Schoof at the G20 Summit, where they discussed mutual investments and future collaborations. The focus remains on fostering a strategic partnership that benefits both countries in a rapidly changing global landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 18, 2025, 14:25 IST

Strengthening Ties Between India and the Netherlands

New Delhi, Dec 18: David van Weel, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for an official visit aimed at bolstering bilateral relations.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed Van Weel, stating in a post on X that his visit will focus on enhancing and diversifying the India-Netherlands partnership through engagements in Delhi and Mumbai.

During his stay, Van Weel is scheduled to meet with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as per a media advisory from the MEA.

Earlier this month, the two nations conducted the 13th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi, where they explored avenues to strengthen collaboration in critical technologies and innovation, including sectors like semiconductors, AI, science and technology, green hydrogen, shipping, and defence and security. They also discussed priority areas under the Water, Agriculture, and Health (WAH) agenda.

Both countries expressed their commitment to adding a strategic dimension to their bilateral relations across various sectors. The MEA statement highlighted the increasing high-level political interactions that have been pivotal in guiding and energizing their partnership.

On November 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof met during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, where Modi remarked on the rapid growth of their bilateral partnership in energy, technology, innovation, and water resources.

Modi shared on X, "I met Mr. Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. Our bilateral partnership is expanding swiftly in areas such as water resources, innovation, technology, and energy. We will continue to deepen our trade and investment connections in the future."

During their discussion, the leaders explored opportunities for increasing mutual investments through their Strategic Partnership.

In a post on X, PM Schoof noted, "The Netherlands and India collaborate closely in trade, security, and innovation. We rank as the fourth largest investor in India globally. It was beneficial to meet with Narendra Modi in South Africa during the G20 summit. We talked about expanding mutual investments through the Strategic Partnership and my involvement in the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi next year. The Netherlands and India will maintain their close cooperation in the long term, as it is crucial to rely on each other in a rapidly evolving world."