Belgium is turning the tide on a “period of national shame” with new defence hikes.

The new Federal Government of Belgium is increasing defence spending to meet the NATO 2% target, over a decade after the country committed to it.

Belgium aims to reach 2% of GDP by 2029 and 2.5% by 2034, ending a “period of national shame”, Theo Francken the Belgian Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade announced on 8 February.

Last year, Belgium’s defence spending equated to only 1.3% of its GDP, EUR7.9 billion according to NATO.

"Belgium was not true to its status as a founding member of NATO, but acted as the most notorious free rider of the entire alliance”, Francken continued.

The additional funds will pay for a second brigade of NATO-ready troops, air defence systems, drone technology, electronic warfare equipment, and additional fighter aircraft, he said.

Reports suggest that the additional fighter aircraft include more Lockheed Martin F-35s, on top of the 34 ordered in 2018 for EUR3.8 billion.

The Belgian Ministry of Defence had not responded to DSEI at the time of publication regarding the increase and what it might bode for Belgium and Europe’s industry.

Francken’s rebuttal of what he called a “period of national shame” came a week prior the Munich Security Conference, where he met with partners to discuss Ukraine and collective European security.