While Belgium barely comes – and with some difficulties – to reach the previous NATO standard of 2 percent, it is likely that it will soon be noted. Secretary general Mark Rutte even talks about 5 percent, but we can wonder if it is doable for our country. Prime Minister Bart de Wever (N-VA), on the other hand, believes that an increase is “inevitable” and already provides for a consultation in the federal government.
Main information
- NATO will decide next month of a higher standard for defense expenses for the Member States.
- If it depends on the secretary general Mark Rutte, this standard will be increased to 5 percent of the GDP.
- The federal government already provides for a consultation after the NATO summit on these increased requirements.
NATO has long been asking its member states to devote at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to La Défense. Until recently, Belgium has remained well below this threshold, even reaching only 1.3 percent last year.
The new federal government had the ambition to bring this percentage to 2 percent by 2029, but it was forced by current geopolitics to respect this standard now. With a little effort and a lot of creativity, 3.9 billion euros were found for this purpose. This amount will also be necessary in the years to come, although there are still some uncertainties on this subject.
New NATO standard
This quest may become even more difficult, because there is a high demand within NATO to further take up the standard in defense spending. In the corridors, we often hear about 2.5 or 3 percent. The NATO boss, Mark Rutte, is even more ambitious and, last week, he even talked about 5 percent.
The final decision on this subject will be made at the NATO summit to be held at the end of June in The Hague. After this summit, the federal government provides for a conclave on additional requirements. This is what the Prime Minister of Wever said at a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, via Het Nieuwsblad. “If there is a consensus on this subject within NATO, it seems to me quite inevitable to implement it,” he said.
