New Delhi, Sept. 3 -- Belgium Defence and Trade Minister Theo Francken on Thursday talked about the growing defence cooperation with India and said New Delhi wants to rapidly expand its military-industrial base and his country has a direct security interest in that.

He said in a post on X that India is a stabilising factor in South Asia and in the Indian Ocean.

"India wants to rapidly expand its military-industrial base. We have a direct security interest in that. India is a stabilising factor in South Asia and in the Indian Ocean, a vital artery for our economy. A stronger India can provide a useful counterweight to China's dominance in Asia and thus ensure a more stable balance of power. India is also a useful factor in the search for...