According to our information, another track landed this summer on the “Arizonian” table. It was put forward by Defense representatives themselves during contacts with the presidents of the five parties of the future federal coalition. This involved launching a “Defence voucher”, that is to say a State voucher dedicated to refinancing the department, whatever the budgetary trajectory ultimately chosen (2% of GDP for the end of the legislature or 2.5% for 2035).
This idea is not far-fetched. It was even mentioned by the economist Peter De Keyzer in a carte blanche published in The Time at the start of the year. On the model of the large war loans, he proposed this solution: “Mobilize popular capital with the objective of rebuilding our collective defense […]. The issuance of Defense vouchers would not only allow Belgium to obtain the resources necessary for its protection, but would also increase citizen participation and strengthen confidence in national security.“.
Involve citizens
But this idea was quickly rejected by the negotiators because, they believed, Belgium could no longer afford to further increase the weight of its debt. “A Defense bond equal to a state bond, it’s just debt, no matter what.“, criticizes an “Arizonian”, who also confirms that the Defense representatives had indeed suggested this method. “On the other hand, the advantage of this formula is to interest the citizen in Defense“, however, recognizes the same informant. The idea of a fund financed by the sale of assets remains, at this stage, in favor of the partners of the future majority.
Raising defense spending to 2% of GDP will bring 10.5 billion euros to Belgian society
As a reminder, the upheaval in geopolitics and the return of Donald Trump to Washington in January put military issues back on the federal agenda. Under Vivaldi (the De Croo government), a roadmap for reinvestment in Defense to achieve the 2% “Otanesque” level had been defined. But now the “Arizonian” parties want to do better. A way to respond to international issues, but also to stand out with a strong decision from the federal team in current affairs.
