Saudi Arabia has asked Belgium for support in defending itself against Iranian attacks Belgian defence minister Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist N-VA) told lawmakers in parliament on Wednesday. This morning, he confirmed that he wants to help the Saudis. Other government parties have rejected the idea. PM De Wever (Flemish nationalist N-VA) says consensus is now needed.
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Saudi Arabia asks Belgium for support, Defence minister Francken ‘absolutely in favour’
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‘I am absolutely in favour of supporting an ally. We have to do this. If partners are attacked and they ask for help, we have to say yes.’
Francken says he will soon put a proposal to cabinet. According to the defence minister, Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist N-VA) and Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prévot (Francophone centrist Les Engagés) are in favour of supporting Saudi.
Francken also says the United Arab Emirates has also asked Belgium for help, in defending UAE infrastructure against Iranian drones and missiles.
Other Flemish government parties not enthusiastic
Federal government parties Flemish Christian democrat CD&V and Flemish socialist Vooruit are not eager to support Saudi. ‘We have no business in Saudi Arabia,’ CD&V chair Sammy Mahdi posted on social media. ‘The war rhetoric needs to stop.’
Vooruit also has reservations about any support. Axel Weydts, defence specialist for the party, refers, among other things, to the unclear exit strategy of the United States and Israel.
'Above all very stupid' says De Wever
Prime Minister De Wever (Flemish nationalist N-VA) has added his voice to the widening debate within the federal government now that Saudi Arabia has requested Belgian assistance: ‘We must be able to discuss the protection of civilians’ the premier says.
The prime minister wants the cabinet to discuss the request for support from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. De Wever was speaking at the defence and arms fair in Brussels.
‘When it comes to defensive systems to protect the civilian population of countries that are not involved in that war, the government must be able to discuss this.’
It is not yet certain whether Belgium will respond positively to the request. ‘We need to reach a consensus within the government,’ says De Wever.
It has already become apparent that CD&V and Vooruit are not keen on the idea.
De Wever emphasises that Belgium has no intention of ‘joining Trump's war’. Belgium will certainly not be sending any military personnel to the region. De Wever points out that support could involve anti-drone systems.
De Wever acknowledges that a country like Saudi Arabia, like Iran, is not really a democracy. But he emphasises that it is a ‘partner’. ‘Of course, you could say that we only help people who are as liberal and democratic as we are, but then you would also have to sever all ties with China. That is all very nice and very principled, but above all very unrealistic and very stupid.’