site.btaBelgium Open to NATO's 5% Defence Spending Target, but Calls For Flexibility

Belgium is open to gradually increasing its defence spending to 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP), but is calling for flexibility, Defence Minister Theo Francken said, as quoted by local media.

In his words, the country would need at least seven years to meet the target. Francken insisted that military aid to Ukraine should be counted as part of the defense budget.

On Thursday evening, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte proposed that member states spend 5% of their GDP on defence, though he did not specify a timetable. Under the proposal, NATO countries would be required to increase core defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, with the remaining 1.5% going towards defence- and security-related investments, such as infrastructure and industry. The proposal is expected to be discussed at the NATO summit in The Hague in late June. The proposed increase in defence spending is driven by the need to address gaps in defense capabilities in light of the threat posed by Russia, Rutte said.

In 2014, Allies agreed to spend 2% of GDP on defence. According to Rutte, all NATO members will meet this target by the end of the year.