Belgium must demand greater economic returns from France following its purchase of armoured vehicles, according to the Chief of Defence of the Belgian Armed Forces, Frederik Vansina.
Speaking on VRT's Terzake programme on Monday evening, Air Force General Vansina addressed criticism from the Belgian Court of Audit regarding the procurement of 400 new armoured vehicles for the Belgian Army. The contract, established in 2018 under the Michel government, was initially priced at €1.5 billion, but the Court of Audit now estimates the cost at €14.4 billion.
Vansina reiterated the Defence Ministry's explanations made earlier that day, acknowledging the Court of Audit's valid point about the lack of lifecycle cost considerations (such as maintenance and ammunition) in the purchase agreement – considerations that were included in the F-16 replacement deal.
However, he contended that these costs have been accounted for in other parts of the defence budget. "It is incorrect to say that this creates a significant gap in the defence budget. That funding is allocated elsewhere."
The Court also criticised the limited economic benefits for Belgium. "I believe Belgium now has every interest in adopting a much tougher stance towards France," Vansina argued. "It's obvious that when you buy billions in high-tech capabilities from a country, your industry should also benefit."
