The Federal Government has still not yet taken a decision on military support for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Both countries are asking Belgium for help in defending themselves against Iranian missile attacks.
There is disunity on the issue between the parties that make up the Federal coalition government. The Flemish nationalists and the Francophone liberals and centrists are in favour. They believe that Belgium should agree to the request, partly to maintain good relations with the countries that made them.
On Thursday the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist) stress that “the intention is not to take part in the war, but to protect the civilian population of countries not directly involved in it.”
However, the Flemish Christian democrats anbd socialists are not so enthusiastic. The Flemish Christian democrat leader Sammy Mahdi said that “Whether it is defensive or offensive, you would be participating militarily.
Meanwhile, the Flemish socialist leader Conner Rousseau said that “In my world, Saudi Arabia is not an ally. If you don’t know what game you’re playing, you should stay as far away from the game as possible”
At Friday morning’s meeting of the Federal Inner Cabinet meeting, the Defence Minister Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist) presented the options to ministers.
The government will discuss the issue further in the coming days and weeks.