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Devastating defence cuts in Belgium
October 7, 2003 (by
Bjorn Claes) -
A lot of rumors have been spread the last weeks about a new round of Belgian defence cuts. Although not officially confirmed by the government yet, the 'Financieel Economische Tijd' published an article on its frontpage today that indicate that the rumors of the past few weeks have been close to the truth.
In an attempt to cut costs the Belgian government has decided that the Belgian Air Component will lose up to 30 of its updated F-16's. This means only 60 aircraft will stay operational and 48 will be provided to NATO's integrated defence.
This reduction also means that one of Belgian's MOB will be closed. Up to now it isn't clear if it will be Kleine-Brogel AFB or Florennes AFB. Considering the fact that Kleine-Brogel has the largest contingent of F-16's, with the OCU already based there, the lack of infrastructure in Florennes to house the B61 nuclear bombs and the ending of the TLP contract next year (with rumors that they would relocate to Spain or Portugal), the latter has the most chances of being closed.
Other reductions within the other Components of the armed forces have also been planned, with a vast reduction of the heavy (expensive) equipment. Emmanuel Jacob of the defence union ACMP asks himself if this isn't the start of a plan to eliminate all of Belgian's offensive equipment. If this is true, this means the start of the ending of Belgium's solidarity with its neighbours and NATO. Considering the defence politics of the past government, this could well be the case.
The only hope is that the mothballed equipment can be sold on the second-hand market to provide the Belgian armed forces with some cash to start a very much needed and long awaited modernisation effort. In the past though, Belgium hasn't been able to sell a lot of its stored equipment, so let's hope it will happen now.
This reduction also means that one of Belgian's MOB will be closed. Up to now it isn't clear if it will be Kleine-Brogel AFB or Florennes AFB. Considering the fact that Kleine-Brogel has the largest contingent of F-16's, with the OCU already based there, the lack of infrastructure in Florennes to house the B61 nuclear bombs and the ending of the TLP contract next year (with rumors that they would relocate to Spain or Portugal), the latter has the most chances of being closed.
Other reductions within the other Components of the armed forces have also been planned, with a vast reduction of the heavy (expensive) equipment. Emmanuel Jacob of the defence union ACMP asks himself if this isn't the start of a plan to eliminate all of Belgian's offensive equipment. If this is true, this means the start of the ending of Belgium's solidarity with its neighbours and NATO. Considering the defence politics of the past government, this could well be the case.
The only hope is that the mothballed equipment can be sold on the second-hand market to provide the Belgian armed forces with some cash to start a very much needed and long awaited modernisation effort. In the past though, Belgium hasn't been able to sell a lot of its stored equipment, so let's hope it will happen now.