According to the newspaper L’Echo, the Ministry of Defense’s plan calls for the acquisition of ammunition for €2.3 billion, armored vehicles for €4 billion, and 11 F-35 fighter jets for €1 billion.

These investments seek to achieve the NATO target of two percent of GDP for defense.

However, NATO has already set a new goal of five percent for 2034, approved at the June summit in The Hague.

Belgian military spending has sparked internal debate, with criticism for cuts in social areas.

Analysts point out that this arms race reflects the geopolitical tensions in Europe following the conflict in Ukraine.

While the European community strengthens its military capabilities, peace organizations warn of the risk of a new military escalation on the continent.

abo/arm/mem/am