The percentage initially seemed to be slightly lower, but because some 611 million euros will be provided for military aid to Ukraine next year, Belgium will still achieve 1.24 percent. The percentage is lower than the 1.26 percent in Dedonder’s STAR plan, but GDP fluctuates, the minister indicated. What matters is that the defense budget expressed in euros has now increased for four budgets in a row, she explained.
In any case, Dedonder is not concerned about the commitments towards NATO, she said. The military alliance requires an annual contribution of 2 percent of GDP from the allies. Our country aims to achieve this by 2035, with an intermediate target of 1.57 percent by 2030.