Belgian PM says it is realistic to increase core defence spending to 3.5%
THE HAGUE, June 25 (Reuters) - Increasing Belgium’s core defence spending to 3.5% of GDP within 10 years is realistic, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said on Wednesday ahead of meeting world leaders at the NATO Summit.
"I think 3.5% in 10 years time is a realistic objective. It won't be easy to get there, but it is what NATO has decided as necessary," he told reporters, though adding that if capability targets can be met with less, as Spain is planning, Belgium may follow suit, but noted that if NATO says it takes 3.5%, "it’s probably true".
On Sunday, NATO members agreed to raise their defence spending target to 5% of GDP by increasing the core defence goal from 2% to 3.5% and allocating an additional 1.5% for related areas such as cybersecurity and upgrading roads and bridges for military use.
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