Belgium aims to hike defence spending to 2% of GDP this year, De Tijd reports
The Belgian government aims to accelerate defence spending by 4 billion euros ($4.2 billion) in the coming months, Belgian newspaper De Tijd reported, citing Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
The increase should take Belgium's total defence spending to 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) this year, which is the minimum level agreed among NATO allies.
The new Belgium government had said last month it would reach this threshold by 2029. Defence spending is currently around 1.3% of Belgian GDP, and has never reached the 2% level before.
De Wever aims to have the higher spending in place by the NATO summit on June 24, De Tijd said.
The Belgian government was not immediately available for comment.
Source: Reuters
