EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced massive new investments in European defence. Meanwhile, US President Donald J. Trump has introduced a temporary pause on all US military aid to Ukraine. Thanks to the European defence plan, Belgium can invest more in defence, ‘especially in ammunition’ says Belgian defence minister Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist N-VA).
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Defence minister Theo Francken welcomes European defence plan: ‘4 bn euros outside existing budgetary framework’
Colin Clapson
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Defence Minister Theo Francken is ‘very pleased’ with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's new defence plans. ‘It will mean that Belgium can invest an extra 4 billion euros in defence this year,’ Mr Francken told VRT. ‘The General Staff has told me that our ability to absorb investments is big enough. We will get through the cash, we can make wise investments.’
Exactly how the extra funding will be spent, Mr Francken is not letting on at the minute. ‘It will mainly go towards ammunition, but also some larger orders,’ he says. ‘The package will also include support for Ukraine and additional airborne capabilities. We need an awful lot, that is also in the government’s coalition agreement. We are going to place a lot of orders in the coming weeks and months.’
Mr Francken is also satisfied that the additional funds for defence are not covered by European budget rules. ‘That 4 billion euros is a huge amount, but it will have to be found. It is good that it can be kept outside the existing budgetary programme, because we also want to make our country healthier and stronger, financially.’