During the NATO summit held in Vilnius, it was agreed that member countries should allocate a minimum of two percent of their GDP to defense annually. However, Belgium's

current government plans indicate that it will not reach this target until 2035.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, from the Open VLD party, affirmed the country's commitment to meeting the two percent goal by 2035. He emphasized that Belgium had experienced a period of defense budget reductions over the past 15 years, making it necessary to gradually increase spending.

Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder echoed this sentiment, highlighting Belgium's efforts in investing in capabilities and personnel during the current legislature. She emphasized the importance of recruitment to strengthen the defense sector, noting that Belgium is actively addressing this need. Photo by U.S. Secretary of Defense, Wikimedia commons.