The newly formed Belgian coalition government, established in late January, has revealed plans to gradually increase defense spending, first to 2% of GDP, and eventually to 2.5%.

The publication European Security & Defence reported on this.

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken stated that the new government “will bring an end to what I can confidently describe as a period of national regret.”

The plan is to achieve a defense spending level of 2% of GDP by 2029, with a further increase to 2.5% by 2034.

According to the latest NATO figures, Belgium allocated 1.3% of its GDP to defense in 2024, ranking fourth among the 31 NATO member states with their own armed forces. However, it remains one of eight countries that have yet to meet NATO’s recommended 2% GDP defense spending target.

Belgium plans to allocate additional funds to create new Army units and strengthen the Navy.

It also envisages the development of air defense, counter-drone capabilities, and electronic warfare systems.

“History has returned with full force. What Russia unleashed on February 24, 2022, is a classic act of aggression. Europe has not witnessed anything like this since World War II. We had hoped we would never face such a conflict again, believing that such wars were a thing of the past… We were mistaken,” Francken said.

Increasing the capabilities of the Belgian army

In October, it was reported that the Belgian government planned to sign a contract for the supply of the European SAMP/T NG medium-range air defense system.

European defense company MBDA is close to winning the contract to supply the SAMP/T system to Belgium, beating another bidder, the American Raytheon with the Patriot PAC-3 system.

In December, the first F-35 fighter jet was delivered to Luke Air Force Base in the United States to train Belgian pilots.

The first arrival of F-35A combat aircraft to Belgium is scheduled for 2025.

Belgium signed a contract for the delivery of a total of 34 Lightning II fighters in October 2018.