Earlier this year, Federal Interior Minister Bernard Quintin of the liberal MR party unveiled a “Big cities” security plan. The proposal aimed to deploy soldiers to specific hotspots in Brussels by the end of the year. It was presented as a response to persistent drug trafficking and related violence affecting several neighbourhoods.
That project has now been shelved. After weeks of negotiations, the federal government failed to reach political agreement. As a result, there will be no military presence on Brussels streets in the near future.
The deadlock reflects a broader dispute within Belgium’s governing coalition. MR and the Flemish Christian Democrats CD&V have clashed over how to link public security measures with prison policy. What began as a debate over urban safety has become entangled with the nationwide crisis of prison overcrowding.
MR, supported by the Flemish nationalist N-VA, has long argued for military deployment in public spaces. The parties say soldiers could reinforce overstretched police forces in areas affected by organised crime. They frame the measure as a visible signal of firmness on security.
Defence Minister Theo Francken of N-VA has repeatedly said the armed forces are operationally ready. According to Francken, the military could be deployed quickly if political approval were granted. However, he has stressed that the final decision lies entirely with the federal cabinet.
Talks collapsed last Tuesday when CD&V refused to endorse the proposal. The party insisted that any reinforcement of public security must be matched by action on prison overcrowding. Without such guarantees, CD&V declined to support sending troops into Brussels.
Belgium’s prison system is under severe strain. More than 670 detainees are reportedly sleeping on the floor due to a lack of space. In addition, over 3,200 convicted individuals are waiting at home for a prison place to become available.
Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden, also from CD&V, has proposed easing the pressure.
Her plan would allow certain prisoners to leave custody up to one year before the end of their sentence. Currently, early release is generally limited to six months.
MR has rejected the proposal outright. Party leaders argue that extending early release would undermine their political message on law and order. For them, linking troop deployment to prisoner releases sends the wrong signal to voters.
This clash has effectively fused two separate policy areas into one political standoff.
Decisions on security in Brussels are now tied to debates about prison management across the country. Neither side has shown willingness to compromise.
Local authorities in Brussels have had little visible influence on the outcome. Under Belgian law, mayors are responsible for maintaining public order in their municipalities. They may request military assistance only if police resources are insufficient and an imminent threat exists.
In practice, such requests depend on federal approval. Inter-ministerial agreements and political consensus are required before soldiers can be deployed. This places ultimate control firmly in the hands of the national government.
François De Smet, a federal MP for the Brussels regionalist DéFI party, has criticised the stalemate. He accused coalition partners of blocking each other’s dossiers for political gain.
According to De Smet, the situation echoes past episodes of federal paralysis.
Belgium has deployed soldiers domestically before. Following the terrorist attacks of 2016, troops patrolled streets and transport hubs nationwide. At the time, the measure enjoyed broad political consensus and public support.
That deployment was framed as an exceptional response to an immediate threat.
Today, the security context is markedly different. The armed forces also face competing priorities, including international missions and commitments linked to the war in Ukraine.
For now, there is no clear timeline for revisiting the proposal. Police remain solely responsible for addressing drug-related violence in Brussels. Meanwhile, the structural problems of Belgium’s prison system remain unresolved.
