Belgium plans to reach NATO's 2% GDP defense spending target by 2029, local media reported, quoted by BTA.
The country is the worst performer in terms of military spending across the alliance, and the announcement comes in the context of today's EU defense summit and the need to further increase military budgets.
The new Belgian government, which took office earlier today, plans to provide the armed forces with new combat frigates, additional F-35 fighter jets (on top of the 34 already ordered) and air defense assets. The composition of the combat forces will be increased, and the army will receive new technologies for conducting electronic warfare and combat drones.
Over the past ten years, Belgium's defense spending has remained the lowest in NATO, last year it was only 1.3% of GDP. By 2034, this share is expected to increase to 2.5%, although the new US President, Donald Trump, is pushing for even higher spending.
Among the new plans is also to increase the size of the army to 29,100 servicemen by 2030, which is 5,000 more. There are no plans for the development of tank forces and medium-range strike systems for the time being.