Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has drawn attention with remarks suggesting that Europe was too slow to recognise the risks of strategic dependence and growing exposure to Chinese imports.
Referring to India’s earlier concerns, De Wever reportedly acknowledged that New Delhi had recognised some of these vulnerabilities sooner, saying in essence: India warned Europe, and Europe is listening more closely now.
The broader issue goes far beyond China. Governments worldwide are increasingly debating how much they should depend on another country for critical technology, manufacturing, energy and supply chains.
For India, the remarks reinforce a message it has increasingly promoted internationally: economic partnerships matter, but strategic autonomy matters too.
In geopolitics, recognising a vulnerability early can become a strategic advantage later.
News Edit KV Raman
