Belgium aims to increase defence spending to 2% of GDP this year
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FILE PHOTO: A Belgian Air Force Airbus A400M Atlas is parked next to aircrafts, at Belgian military airport in Melsbroek, Belgium March 4, 2024. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
BRUSSELS - The Belgian government aims to accelerate defence spending by 4 billion euros ($4.2 billion) in the coming months, the Belgian defence ministry said on Tuesday, confirming a report by Belgian newspaper De Tijd that cited Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
The increase should take Belgium's total defence spending to 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) this year, which is the minimum level agreed among NATO allies.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken will propose the increase at the next cabinet meeting on Friday, his spokesperson said.
The new Belgium government had said last month it would reach this threshold by 2029. Defence spending is currently around 1.3% of Belgian GDP, and has never reached the 2% level before.
De Wever aims to have the higher spending in place by the NATO summit on June 24, De Tijd reported. REUTERS
