Belgium resigned to accepting NATO's 5 per cent defence spending goal
Belgium will not oppose an increase in defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP at next week's NATO summit, De Tijd reports. This stands in stark contrast to the strong statements from the leaders of three governing parties in the federal coalition – Vooruit, MR and CD&V – last weekend.
The three leaders called it unrealistic to increase defence spending to 5 per cent of Belgium’s gross domestic product, as requested by NATO. Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau told De Standaard that the goal was “ridiculous” and “excessive, unachievable and unaffordable”.
According to De Tijd, an agreement reached on Friday by the federal council of ministers is at odds with such strong statements.
The government realises it is no longer possible to oppose the goal at next week's NATO summit in The Hague, because too many member states are in favour of it. “We do not welcome it with much enthusiasm, but our message will be that we want to remain a reliable partner,” a cabinet source said.
“We do not welcome it with much enthusiasm, but our message will be that we want to remain a reliable partner"
However, Belgium will ask for maximum flexibility. NATO's proposal is to increase pure military spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP, with a budgetary margin of 1.5 per cent of GDP for infrastructure and internal security.
It is even possible that the police budget could be included in this. Belgium will propose changing this ratio to 3 and 2 per cent of GDP. “But we are completely alone in this, so we will not achieve it,” according to a government source.
Spread over longer period
A plea for a spread over a longer period has a better chance of success. Belgium hopes to spread the budget increase until 2035. Canada, the UK, France, Spain and Italy are also advocating this.
“But on the other hand, there is a powerful bloc of the United States and the Baltic states, which are already committed to 2030,” a source inside the coalition said. “There is a good chance that the compromise will lie somewhere in the middle.”
"There is a powerful bloc of the United States and the Baltic states, which are already committed to 2030"
What Belgium and its partners are likely to achieve is the scrapping of the interim increases. NATO proposes that the budget per member state should increase annually by 0.2 per cent of GDP, but Belgium, Canada, the UK, France, Italy and Spain do not want this.
Another issue that is likely to receive a positive response is the request to review NATO's defence spending goal when the military alliance redefines its capability targets in 2029 based on the global security situation.
On Tuesday, prime minister Bart De Wever, Foreign minister Maxime Prévot and Defence minister Theo Francken will explain the mandate they have received from the council of ministers in parliament.
Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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