Belgium will continue to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the US, Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) stated during a parliamentary session on Wednesday.
The Federal Government's 'Easter Agreement' includes a significant boost in defence spending, with a €4 billion budget increase to meet NATO’s 2% of GDP standard by 2025 instead of 2029.
The specific allocation of the €4 billion funds will be revealed in July. What is known is that Belgium must comply with the capabilities required by NATO, which includes the acquisition of more fighter jets.
As Belgium has already purchased 34 American F-35s, this will continue to be the model opted for, the Prime Minister clarified. He noted that the aircraft could be manufactured in Italy, emphasising the F-35 project's multilateral nature, which is not solely American.
"The project’s multilateral nature is vital," De Wever stated, adding, "This is not about Trump believing he can wage war against everyone without considering the globalisation of the economy."
