Belgium's General Intelligence and Security Service (SGRS), affiliated with Defence, aims to double its staff by 2040 amidst rising geopolitical tensions, according to its annual report released on Wednesday.
Though a final agreement on Belgium's military budget has not been reached, Defence Minister Théo Francken (N-VA) has expressed his intention to rapidly increase it to 2% of the gross domestic product (GDP). This increase is expected to benefit the SGRS, which currently has around 1,000 personnel (exact numbers are classified).
"I want to double our workforce by 2040. It's very ambitious," said the head of the SGRS, Major General Stéphane Dutron, in an interview with Belga News Agency. "But it seems necessary to continue developing the various entities of our organisation."
Rising threat level
Growing international tensions are also impacting Belgium's security, making recruitment essential. "Most regional conflicts naturally have repercussions in Europe and Belgium. This results in a concerning rise in anti-Semitism and radicalisation, and consequently, increased work for intelligence and security services," explained Dutron.
"The threat level, particularly regarding espionage and interference, has continued to rise, prompting targeted measures to counter them."
Recruitment campaigns are ongoing. Dutron noted that "personnel in all sectors of the organisation" can be recruited.
However, the SGRS faces limitations, especially regarding available space. "We also need to be able to train and house people," Dutron added.
