Belgium’s Defence Minister, Ludivine Dedonder, has criticised ex-US President Donald Trump’s “alarming comments” threatening not to assist NATO countries that fail to pay their agreed quota of spending 2% of GDP on defence, should he be re-elected.
“Mr Trump often makes outrageous statements of this nature,” Dedonder said. “Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, we have succeeded to maintain unity and a common stance.”
In addition to the US, the European Union countries have significantly contributed to assisting Ukraine. “The current Belgian government has invested heavily in rebuilding our defence, initiating a large-scale recruitment plan, purchasing new capabilities like artillery and anti-aircraft defences and fostering a unique relationship with industry to bolster innovation,” said Dedonder.
The minister also reiterated the endorsement of the STAR plan – initiated before the Ukrainian conflict – aimed to strengthen and expand Belgian defence.
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“However, strategic autonomy is not achieved through military capabilities, but through our industrial fabric and our technological mastery. Thus, for the first time, we have developed a strategy to strengthen the industrial base with a budget of 1.8 billion euros by 2030. This objective is shared with other member states, industries and the European Defence Agency, to construct the European pillar within NATO,” concluded the minister.
On Saturday, Trump threatened that, if re-elected, he would cease to defend NATO countries that are behind on their payments, even daring to “encourage” Russia to attack them.
The former American president frequently criticises his NATO allies for not sufficiently funding the institution.
This statement followed Trump pressuring Republican officials in Congress to nullify a bill proposing new aid for Ukraine.
