Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever arrived in India with an unusual and thoughtful gift for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a miniature replica of Delhi’s iconic India Gate made entirely from Belgian chocolate. There was just one problem. The chocolate sculpture did not survive the journey to India. During a joint press conference with PM Modi in New Delhi on September 3, De Wever shared the story with a touch of humour. He said he had planned to present Modi with a sculpture of India Gate made from “the best Belgian chocolates.” However, unlike the real India Gate, which has stood for almost a century, the chocolate version could not make it through the journey intact. “Chocolate is excellent for diplomacy, but not excellent for diplomatic travel,” De Wever joked.
A gift with a deeper meaning
While the story brought laughter to the press conference, the gift was more than just a sweet gesture. De Wever chose India Gate because of the shared history between India and Belgium. The monument in New Delhi commemorates Indian soldiers who served and died during the First World War. According to the official India-Belgium joint statement, PM Modi and De Wever recalled the sacrifice of more than 9,000 Indian soldiers in the Flanders Fields during the First World War. Their sacrifice remains an important part of the historical connection between the two countries. The chocolate replica was therefore meant to connect Belgium’s famous chocolate tradition with a significant Indian monument and the countries’ shared history.
The chocolate gift did not make it
The unusual present, however, faced a very modern diplomatic problem, travel. De Wever explained that the chocolate India Gate did not survive the journey to India. Reports have described the gift as having melted or been damaged during transit, but De Wever’s own wording was that the chocolate version “didn’t even survive the journey to India.” Instead of treating the mishap as a disappointment, the Belgian prime minister turned it into a lighthearted moment. He also revealed that a backup version of the chocolate sculpture is still in Belgium. De Wever said he intends to get it to PM Modi “in one piece,” making sure that the sweet diplomatic gesture eventually reaches its destination.
More than a chocolate gift
The playful chocolate story came during a visit that carried much greater diplomatic importance. De Wever’s India visit, from September 2 to 4, 2026, is his first visit to the country since becoming Belgium’s prime minister in February 2025. During his meeting with Modi, the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between India and Belgium. The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in several areas, including trade, investment, defence, semiconductors, critical minerals, renewable energy, and technology. India and Belgium also discussed stronger maritime and port cooperation. Reuters reported that the two countries also agreed to work towards doubling bilateral trade over the next five years and announced an Investment Fast-Track Mechanism to encourage Belgian investment in India.
A sweet moment in a serious visit
The chocolate India Gate may not have reached PM Modi as planned, but the idea behind it remained intact. The gift brought together Belgian chocolate, an iconic Indian landmark, and the shared memory of Indian soldiers who fought in Belgium during the First World War. What began as a carefully planned diplomatic present ended up becoming a humorous moment during an important bilateral visit. And perhaps that is what made the gesture memorable. The chocolate sculpture may not have survived the journey, but the message behind it did. As De Wever returns to Belgium, one small diplomatic mission remains unfinished: getting the backup chocolate India Gate to PM Modi, this time, hopefully, in one piece.
