Belgium heads to NATO summit with 34bn euro defence plan
Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever and Defence minister Theo Francken are set to attend this week's NATO summit in The Hague, armed with a comprehensive defence investment plan worth 34 million euros. This follows a last-minute agreement within the federal government.
During the Easter break, the government pledged to increase defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP with effect from this year. The newly adopted strategic vision sets out how this funding will be spent in future years.
According to Francken, of N-VA, the plan involves investments totalling 34 billion euros, with a particular focus on air defence. The navy will receive a third frigate, the army will be reinforced with a second fully equipped brigade, and funding will be allocated to a battalion of combat drones, as well as to research and development in space and cyber capabilities.
Although no agreement was reached on Francken’s proposal to purchase additional F-35 fighter jets, he said this represented "just 1 billion of a 34 billion euro package".
Personnel investment
The plan also includes significant investment in personnel, including a new social agreement covering pay and pensions, as well as infrastructure upgrades, such as the modernisation of ageing military barracks.
Francken provided further details on X, saying that between 2026 and 2034, Belgium will invest in American Patriot missile systems and the Franco-Italian SAMP/T, as well as other systems such as Piorun, NASAMS and Skyranger. The plan also includes new heavy-lift and search-and-rescue helicopters, and SkyGuardian MQ-9B drones.
The land forces will be reinforced with over 1,000 Serval, Griffon, and Jaguar combat vehicles, "thousands" of logistical support vehicles, and "sufficient" ammunition, according to Francken. A new medical hub is also set to be built at the site of the military hospital in Neder-Over-Heembeek.
Defence budget trajectory
Alongside the investment programme, the government has set the broader defence budget trajectory: spending will remain at 2 per cent of GDP until 2033, rising to 2.5 per cent thereafter.
"We must proceed responsibly and avoid making open-ended commitments to additional spending"
However, NATO is expected to adopt a new benchmark requiring member states to allocate 5 per cent of GDP to defence by 2035, with at least 3.5 per cent dedicated to direct military spending. If this becomes official, Francken said that the Belgian government will need to “reconsider how we align with it”.
Deputy prime minister and Budget minister Vincent Van Peteghem of CD&V defended the decision to maintain spending at 2 per cent until 2033, describing it as "realistic and credible".
"The fiscal burden is already considerable," he said. "We must proceed responsibly and avoid making open-ended commitments to additional spending." Vooruit also described the current increase in defence spending as “reasonable”.
The NATO summit, taking place on 24 and 25 June in The Hague, is being closely watched due to the expected adoption of the new standard that would significantly raise national defence spending targets.
© BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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