The defence budget increases by a mere 0.01%: Belgium becomes “a pariah within NATO”

The Court of Audit is critical of the defence budget for 2023: despite clever tricks, the defence budget will increase by a mere 0.01% this year, and our defence effort will remain stuck at just 1.20% of GDP The gross domestic product (GDP) is the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country, both by companies and the government. This term is usually used as a benchmark for a country’s prosperity. This is why the N-VA closely follows the evolution of the Belgian GDP. GDP . MP Theo Francken: “The NATO guideline for the defence budget is further away than ever. This can no longer be justified to our allies.”

Despite the Russian invasion in February last year, Belgium did not exceed 1.19% of GDP in the defence budget in 2023. This is remarkable given that supporting Ukraine’s defence requires huge efforts from the NATO alliance. At the same time, the allies’ own armed forces must be strengthened in order to cope with the increasing threat of war in the east. That is why particular attention will be paid to the budgetary efforts for defence by each Member State during the coming NATO summit. After all, NATO requires every Member State to aim at spending 2% of GDP.

Concerned

MP Theo Francken is already concerned: “The chronic underinvestment in our defence has already been heavily criticised by our allies in the past. It is therefore incomprehensible that the government is not making an extra effort for defence.”

The time for playing is over

The Defence department’s strategic vision for the period 2023-2030 is based on a linear increase in defence efforts towards 1.54% of GDP by 2030. In the adjusted budget, we just reach 1.20%. We are a mere 0.01% up on last year. The Court of Audit also confirmed this in its opinion on the budgetary adjustment.

A pariah within NATO

Theo Francken: “The time for playing is over. In the years before the Russian invasion, Belgium’s casual behaviour towards defence was still tolerated. Most European countries now invest heavily in their defence and will demand that Belgium does its part. And they are right, because with this defence budget, this government is making this country a pariah within NATO.”