The decision to purchase the American-made jets was initially taken in 2018 by then-Prime Minister Charles Michel’s government as part of a plan to replace Belgium’s ageing fleet of 45 F-16 fighter jets
The Belgian government has significantly accelerated its defense spending commitments, announcing earlier this month that it would reach the NATO target of allocating two percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to defense by the end of 2024
To fund the increased defence spending, Van Peteghem confirmed the possibility of selling state assets, a measure that Defence Minister Theo Francken of the N-VA has advocated to finance a dedicated defence fund
The invitation was extended during a phone call between the leaders on Tuesday, after an initial delay on the Ukrainian side. According to De Wever’s spokesperson, the Belgian Prime Minister has acknowledged the invitation and will accept it at an appropriate time
The fifteen countries involved in the initiative include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom
