Belgian PM’s Chocolate India Gate Gift For PM Modi Breaks During India Journey

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever revealed that a sculpture of India Gate made entirely from Belgian chocolate, which he had planned to present to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, did not survive its journey to India. Speaking at a joint press conference with PM Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Thursday, De Wever described the failed chocolate delivery with humour and announced that a backup version remains in Belgium and will be sent to Modi.

De Wever noted that the chocolate replica was deliberately designed as India Gate because the monument represents a connection between India’s history and its future partnership with Belgium. The sculpture also featured an enlarged portion of the inscription commemorating Indian soldiers who fought and died in Flanders Fields during the First World War. He highlighted the historical connection as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers on Belgian soil more than a century ago.

The Belgian Prime Minister added that the gift was intended to carry a message about the shared history between the two countries, while also underlining the importance of peace. His comments came after bilateral talks with Modi during his first visit to India as Belgian Prime Minister. De Wever described the visit as particularly meaningful because it was the first by a Belgian Prime Minister to India in 20 years, although he noted that the gap between such high-level visits had been too long.

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De Wever also praised the transformation India has undergone over the past two decades, particularly during Modi’s tenure. He highlighted India’s position as the world’s largest democracy and a major economic and technological power. For Belgium, he noted, India has become an increasingly important partner because of its growing economic and geopolitical influence.

At the same time, De Wever highlighted Belgium’s strengths as a highly open and internationally connected economy built around trade and access to global markets. He indicated that while Belgium is much smaller than India in scale, the two countries have complementary economic strengths that can support deeper cooperation. His remarks came as the two sides discussed strengthening bilateral ties across trade, investment and other areas of mutual interest.

The chocolate India Gate may not have completed its diplomatic journey, but De Wever maintained that the gesture itself remains intact. With a replacement sculpture still in Belgium, the Belgian Prime Minister indicated that he intends to ensure the unusual gift eventually reaches Modi in one piece, adding a lighter moment to a visit focused on strengthening India-Belgium relations.

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