NATO member states will meet at a summit in The Hague next week, when they are expected to agree that the norm for defence spending should rise to 5% of GDP. With this in mind the Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken told the Federal Parliament on Thursday evening that he expects Belgium to be given 10 years to reach the 5%-target. Mr Francken was speaking during a debate on the Federal Government’s 2025 budget.
Belgian Defence Minister expects Belgium to be given 10 years to reach 5% defence spending target
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At next week’s NATO summit Belgium will attempt to stretch the deadline for meeting the 5% target as long as possible. Belgium will also try with to obtain as much flexibility as possible with regard to how defence spending is defined.
“I personally think it will be 10 years”, Mr Francken said. That give Belgium "more breathing space” to increase spending on defence.
Also still being debated is the distribution of the money that would be allocated to defence. The plan currently on the table is for 3.5% for purely military spending and 1.5% of GDP for related investments. Belgium is in favour of a ratio of 3% to 2%.
The left-wing opposition parties have called on the Federal Government to follow the example of Spain’s and simply refuse to comply with the 5% standard. Mr Francken refuted claims that the 5% norm is “Trump norm”, adding that only the United States but also the Baltic States, Finland and Sweden want it implemented.
“Some countries also just want to go to pure 5%, no division between 3.5% and 1.5%. Countries like Belgium are outnumbered. The vast majority want either more or faster”, Mr Francken said.
Investment in air defence
It has already been decided that from this year, the Federal Government will increase military spending to 2% of GDP thus complying with the current NATO standard. The additional defence spending will be allocated to aid for Ukraine and the purchase of ammunition. An order will be placed in early July once the budget has been passed by parliament.
Meanwhile, the Francophone business daily ‘L’Echo’ reports that Belgium and Luxembourg are to purchase NASAMS-type anti-aircraft systems from Norwegian manufacturer Kongsberg via the Netherlands. The contract is worth around 2.5 billion euros. Nine systems are planned for Belgium and one for Luxembourg. Air defence is a priority in Belgium’s rearmament agenda.