The N-VA presents its election programme: “Defence is not a luxury, but a necessity”

“A strong Ministry of Defence is not a luxury, but a necessity to sustain our prosperity,” emphasise N-VA defence experts Theo Francken, Peter Buysrogge and Darya Safai. “War is not a distant problem, but has a concrete impact on our lives. Hybrid threats also come in many forms. Investing in a highly effective Ministry of Defence is more important than ever.”

The Russian invasion and instability in the Middle East are not only affecting us emotionally, but also financially. “The recent Russian invasion thus has a direct impact on purchasing power, resulting in fluctuating energy and food prices. In addition, instability in the Middle East is disrupting logistics chains. Given that our ports and maritime supply lines act as a lifeline for the economy, we urgently need to improve our resilience. The same applies to our critical infrastructure. No shipping, no shopping,” says MP Theo Francken.

Equipment and personnel

“To deal with these threats, sufficient specialised equipment and personnel for the Ministry of Defence is of great importance,” explains MP Peter Buysrogge. “We opt for an internationally anchored Ministry of Defence, with NATO as a cornerstone, an accelerated investment path with clear priorities, the development of a defence ecosystem in collaboration with the federal states, industry and knowledge institutions, and an attractive personnel policy for the professional core of the Ministry of Defence, supplemented with a strong and deployable Reserve.”

A strong Ministry of Defence is essential

“A strong Ministry of Defence is therefore essential to protect our national interests and security,” continues MP Darya Safai. “We must build up and modernise our capabilities to effectively defend against various threats, both traditional and emerging digital and disruptive threats.”

Unacceptably vulnerable and ill-prepared

“The Ministry of Defence is currently insufficiently prepared for both current and future challenges. Even in the midst of the war in Ukraine, the federal government has not shown the will to step up, leaving Belgium lagging behind the rest of the NATO team,” concludes Francken. “This makes us unacceptably vulnerable and ill-prepared. The N-VA, on the other hand, does stand ready to provide sufficient resources, personnel and equipment so that the Ministry of Defence can carry out its tasks properly. And all within a reasonable timeframe.”