The political party N-VA wants a tax deduction of 10 percent for companies that want to invest in defense. The party wants to increase the resources that go to our defense. A strong defense is necessary to safeguard our prosperity, N-VA said today when presenting the Defense Plan with which the party is heading to the elections.
Our country does not come close to NATO expectations of spending two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense every year. Belgium is even one of the countries at the bottom of the list. The current government drew up a growth plan to reach the percentage by 2035. For N-VA, this must be done by 2029. “It is time to wake up,” said MP Theo Francken (N-VA). “They are going to force us to go faster. If it’s not Joe Biden, it’ll be Donald Trump.”
To achieve that two percent, an annual investment of five billion euros is required. That is quite a challenge for our country, as we will have to cough up billions in the coming years to close the budget hole. Still, Francken thinks that figure is “not insurmountable”, or at least “relative”. To this end, he makes a comparison with the 200 billion euros in social security expenditure that is projected for 2030.
MP Peter Buysrogge (N-VA) looks towards Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder (PS). She does not get a bad report for her policy, but Buysrogge does not understand why she did not knock on the table for extra money for defense after the war in Ukraine.
Looking at social security
Francken says that there must be a new balance between hard and soft security. He thinks we are completely out of balance. “The increase in social protection has been so broad that it has become unaffordable, but hard safety has been neglected in the meantime.”
Many of the interventions by N-VA to obtain these investments are situated within social security. In addition, the party also wants to free up resources through a tax deduction for investments in defense and research and development (R&D) applications. Finally, banks should also be less hesitant to invest in defense projects.
“More than bullets”
Francken emphasizes that in this case it is “about more than just money for bullets.” “It is also about investments in jobs and innovation.” He refers to innovation programs that started 60 years ago and continue to provide employment today.
N-VA believes that some investments are needed in its own equipment. For example, operating resources must be increased in order to be operational abroad. N-VA also wants an extra, third frigate and that the army invests in armed drones. An additional 12 F-35 fighter aircraft must also be ordered, in addition to the 34 previously ordered. Finally, a second brigade must be created so that additional combat capacity can be deployed if necessary.
Francken also wants our country to send more soldiers to Kiev. According to him, there are already six of them there, while our northern neighbors are said to have about forty soldiers on site.
N-VA also wants to split the reserve into an operational and territorial reserve. The territorial reserve would focus on protecting critical infrastructure and providing relief to the nation, such as floods. The age limit of 50 would also be abolished, so that there is the option to employ older people with specific expertise.
“No defense, no Duvel”
N-VA wants to make Defense more attractive through a premium for all combat units. This premium therefore goes further than the current para-premium that already exists. Defense could also award an innovation prize every year and, according to Francken, our veterans also deserve a bonus. Francken looks at it with that idea in mind Thank you for your service in the United States, where retired military personnel can count on an advantage here and there.
According to N-VA, all these investments in defense are actually necessary. It also goes beyond just military equipment. “No shipping, no shopping”, Francken summarizes. Or “no Defense, no Duvel”, to stay closer to home. He refers to world trade that suffered from the attacks by the Houthi rebels in Yemen and to the hacking at the Duvel Moortgat beer brewery.
Also read:
Belgium among NATO countries with lowest defense expenditure: only 11 of the 31 member states meet the minimum threshold
European leaders want to invest more in defense
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