Europe is confronting the consequences of years of growing economic dependence on China, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said during his visit to India, acknowledging that New Delhi had identified the risks much earlier but that European nations failed to act on the warning.

Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event in New Delhi, De Wever delivered a pointed assessment of Europe’s economic relationship with China and credited India with recognising the emerging risks before many European countries did.

“India saw this earlier than we did. And they warned us. And we didn’t listen,” De Wever said, highlighting a significant shift in how European leaders are viewing India’s approach to economic security and strategic autonomy.

Europe’s ‘Rude Awakening’

According to De Wever, Europe has entered what he described as a “rude awakening” after years of allowing foreign overcapacity to enter its markets, putting pressure on domestic industries and creating dependencies on external suppliers.

The Belgian prime minister said Europe had allowed its industrial base to be weakened while economic dependencies gradually developed. Such dependencies, he warned, can potentially become tools of geopolitical leverage.

Although De Wever did not repeatedly name China directly in his remarks, his comments were widely understood as a reference to concerns over Chinese industrial overcapacity, inexpensive exports and Europe's reliance on Chinese supply chains.

India’s Earlier Warning

The Belgian leader's remarks put India's economic and strategic approach in a new international context.

For years, India has emphasised the importance of developing domestic manufacturing capabilities, diversifying supply chains and reducing excessive dependence on external sources for strategically important goods.

De Wever's comments suggest that European policymakers are increasingly examining similar concerns as they reassess their economic relationship with China.

The issue is not simply about trade volumes. For Europe, the larger concern is whether dependence on a single external supplier can create vulnerabilities during geopolitical tensions, trade disputes or supply-chain disruptions.

China Dependence Becomes a Strategic Concern

Europe's relationship with China has traditionally involved extensive trade and investment links. However, concerns over industrial competitiveness, supply-chain concentration and economic security have become increasingly important in European policymaking.

De Wever's remarks reflect this broader debate.

The concern is that when a region becomes heavily dependent on another country for critical products, raw materials or technologies, economic relationships can potentially become instruments of political pressure.

For European economies that have built substantial commercial links with China, reducing such vulnerabilities could require major changes in supply chains and industrial policy.

India and Europe See New Opportunity

The Belgian prime minister's comments also come at a time when India and European countries are looking to strengthen economic and strategic cooperation.

During his India visit, discussions have focused on areas including critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, advanced technology, defence, green energy and supply-chain resilience.

These sectors could become increasingly important as countries around the world attempt to diversify their sources of production and reduce strategic vulnerabilities.

India's large domestic market, growing manufacturing capabilities and expanding technology ecosystem could make it an important partner for European countries seeking alternative supply-chain relationships.

Push for Stronger India-Europe Trade Ties

De Wever has also backed stronger economic cooperation between India and Europe, including efforts to advance the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.

A deeper trade relationship could provide European companies with greater access to India's expanding market while giving Indian businesses opportunities to strengthen their presence in Europe.

More importantly, stronger India-Europe economic ties could contribute to the diversification of global supply chains.

A Message Beyond China

The Belgian PM's comments extend beyond criticism of China's economic strategy. They also represent a broader warning about the risks of excessive economic concentration.

The global economy has increasingly moved from a model focused purely on efficiency and low-cost production toward one that also considers resilience, security and strategic autonomy.

Governments are now paying greater attention to where critical goods are produced, who controls essential supply chains and whether economic dependencies could become vulnerabilities.

In that environment, India's earlier emphasis on self-reliance and diversified partnerships is receiving greater attention.

India’s Strategic Importance Rising

De Wever's acknowledgement could further strengthen India's position as an important partner for Europe at a time of increasing global economic fragmentation.

For India, the opportunity lies in moving beyond being simply a large consumer market and becoming an increasingly important manufacturing, technology and supply-chain partner.

The growing focus on semiconductors, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, defence production and advanced technologies could create new areas for India-Europe collaboration.

The Belgian PM's message therefore carries significance beyond the immediate India-China-Europe debate.

His admission — that India had warned Europe but “we didn't listen” — underlines how dramatically the global economic conversation has changed.

Europe is now reassessing the vulnerabilities created by economic dependence, while India is positioning itself as a partner capable of contributing to more diversified and resilient global supply chains.

For New Delhi, the comments represent an important diplomatic and strategic moment: a European leader has publicly acknowledged that India's concerns about economic dependence were identified earlier than many in Europe were prepared to recognise.