Belgium’s largest military unions, VSOA Defence and ACMP, have firmly opposed the idea of deploying soldiers for static security duties traditionally handled by the police.
Their response follows remarks by Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR), who suggested on VRT 1’s “De Zevende Dag” that soldiers could be used more frequently to bolster security after recent shootings in Brussels.
Quintin revealed that he had discussed the proposal with Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA), identifying key targets such as guarding embassies and nuclear plants.
The idea, according to Quintin, is to relieve police officers from such assignments, allowing them to focus on street patrols and crime prevention.
However, military unions argue that this proposal is both inappropriate and impractical. Yves Huwart, secretary-general of ACMP, expressed strong reservations about using soldiers for police-related tasks.
“This is not our task. It’s too easy to resort to Defence for every incident. We need to focus on preparing for geopolitical challenges, not police tasks,” he stated.
VSOA Defence chairman Chris Huybrechts echoed these concerns, pointing out the legal and operational issues with such deployments.
“There is no legal framework or police authority for soldiers to carry out these duties. Soldiers can only be deployed for acute security threats if the OCAD (Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis) raises the threat level, which is not the case at present,” he explained.
The unions also argue that the proposal is primarily a cost-saving measure rather than a genuine security strategy. Unlike police officers, soldiers deployed for 24-hour security assignments are only compensated for 12 hours of work.
This disparity, according to the unions, underscores a broader attempt to cut costs rather than improve public safety.
Adding to the mounting tensions, both VSOA Defence and ACMP anticipate significant military participation in the upcoming protest on 13 February against the De Wever government’s pension reform plans.
The protest is expected to draw a large turnout despite Defence Minister Francken revoking service exemptions that would allow soldiers to engage in union action without repercussions.
Military unions remain adamant that the Belgian armed forces should not be a default solution for police shortages. “Our role is to defend the nation and respond to international crises, not to act as a stopgap for domestic policing,” Huybrechts asserted.
With growing discontent among service members, the government’s security and defence policies are facing heightened scrutiny in the lead-up to the February demonstration.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
