Belgium reaches 3.44 per cent of NATO spending target
Belgium is currently spending the equivalent of 3.44 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence and related security measures, according to new government calculations reported by De Morgen on Thursday. For the first time, the figures also include spending on “resilience”, such as cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and strategic infrastructure.
The updated calculations come ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara this summer, where alliance members are expected to review progress towards the bloc’s new spending targets.
Under pressure from US president Donald Trump, NATO members agreed last year to raise the benchmark to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035. Of that total, up to 1.5 per cent may consist of broader resilience-related expenditure.
Resilience spending included for first time
According to well-informed sources cited by De Morgen, Belgium’s direct military spending currently stands at 2.01 per cent of GDP, while an additional 1.43 per cent is spent on resilience. The government has taken into account costs linked to cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and infrastructure, including railways. Belgium is also spending an additional 4 billion EUR annually on the armed forces themselves.
Within the federal coalition, parties including Vooruit, CD&V and Les Engagés are reportedly among the more cautious supporters of increased military spending. However, according to the newspaper, there is broad recognition that Belgium, which is home to NATO headquarters and the SHAPE military command centre, cannot afford to lag behind within the alliance.
Sources said the government has opted for a relatively cautious interpretation of what qualifies as resilience spending, making it unlikely that NATO would reject part of Belgium’s calculations. "As expected, we do not need to make an extra effort for this new category. We are already doing enough to immediately reach 1.5 per cent," sources told the newspaper.
The figures follow a report published earlier this week by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute showing that global military spending reached a new record in 2025, marking the eleventh consecutive year of growth.
Belgium recorded the sharpest increase in defence spending in Europe last year, with expenditure rising by 59 per cent to 14.5 billion USD. The country climbed from 32nd to 28th place worldwide in terms of military expenditure.
© PHOTO JEAN-CHRISTIAN TIRAT / SIPA
