Prime Minister De Croo visits Belgian soldiers on “NATO” mission in Romania
During the speech that Alexander De Croo gave to the Belgian troops gathered on the tarmac at the Costanta base, he thanked the “men and women who, here, serve more than 2000 km from their homes and their families”. We are, said the Prime Minister, “tremendously grateful”. “For many people, these are very uncertain times. But at times like these, it’s good to know that we can count on you and your dedication. Your presence here is useful”added Alexander De Croo.
The Belgian Prime Minister once again underlined the importance of this deployment within the framework of NATO. “You are not just a symbol of solidarity between us. Your presence is a clear message to the rest of the world: we defend our freedom. We defend our democracy and the free world, let’s be clear, never surrenders”he concluded in front of the troops.
Will Belgium step up its presence within the framework of NATO in Romania? Will she send more soldiers there? At RTBF, Alexander De Croo replies that he is “it is clear that NATO’s presence on this border is going to become more important”. “Will Belgium be part of it more? It’s still to be decided”, adds the Prime Minister. If the NATO High Command decides to reinforce its presence in Romania on the Ukrainian border, Belgium will not object to sending more men. “If we are asked to do more, we will do it, that’s clear”, said Alexander De Croo. The Prime Minister also recalls that Belgium has been doing for fifteen years on the side of the Baltic States, where the Belgian F16s control the airspace. The Belgian F16 mission has just been extended and extended to Poland. There too, if Belgium is invited to do more, the Prime Minister does not exclude it.
As for supplying heavy weapons, as Ukraine requires to defend itself in the Donbass, Alexander De Croo recalls that Belgium was one of the first countries to supply “military support for Ukraine”. Belgium granted to do it, “within Belgium’s capabilities, for example to buy certain equipment that we send directly to Ukraine”concluded the Belgian Prime Minister.
The Chief of Defense, Admiral Michel Hofman also reacted to a possible request from NATO to strengthen its presence near the eastern borders of the Atlantic Alliance. “We have the resources that are necessary. It’s all a matter of planning and, possibly, priorities to be set”, reacted Admiral Hofman. This also specifies that the Belgian Defense has planned, this was to send a detachment to Lithuania while still maintaining the F16s in Estonia, “for the moment, for several months”.
With regard to the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine, the Head of Defense confirms that “the state of Belgian Defense equipment does not allow us to meet this need”.