België blijft slechtste leerling van de NAVO-klas
![Foto: iStock. 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Vlaams Belang is zeer kritisch over de weinig ambitieuze defensieplannen van de Vivaldi-regering. De NAVO wil de 2 procent-norm als een absoluut minimum opleggen, maar België blijft bij het voornemen om 1,54 procent van het bbp te investeren tegen 2030. “Dit terwijl onze partners in sneltempo hun defensiebudgetten optrekken om 2 procent te halen, of zelfs meer”, zegt Kamerlid Annick Ponthier, “Met deze magere ambitie zal België dus één van de slechtste leerlingen van de NAVO-klas blijven.”
Op dinsdag 4 april en woensdag 5 april vergaderden de NAVO-ministers van Buitenlandse Zaken. Aan de agenda stond onder meer de budgettaire defensie-inspanning van de lidstaten. Door de oorlog in Oekraïne werkt de NAVO namelijk aan een sterkere militaire machtsopbouw in het oosten, en dat vereist investeringen in materieel en operationele inzet. Daarom ziet de NAVO de 2 procent-norm als een minimumstandaard en werken de NAVO-lidstaten, ook de Europese, zo snel mogelijk naar die norm toe of doen ze zelfs beter. “België daarentegen ziet de 2 procent-norm als een ultiem streefdoel, waarnaar men een vaag groeipad tegen 2035 heeft uitgetekend”, aldus Ponthier. “Er gaapt dus een gigantische kloof tussen de Belgische defensie-inspanningen enerzijds en de verwachtingen van het bondgenootschap en de prestaties van de bondgenoten anderzijds.”
“Niet enkel de geringe defensie-uitgaven roepen vragen op, ook de manier waarop men het zal besteden doet dat”
Het Vlaams Belang vindt al vanaf het begin van de legislatuur dat minister van Defensie Ludivine Dedonder (PS) de lat zeer laag legt. De partij ondernam dan ook al meerdere initiatieven om die kritiek kenbaar te maken. “Wij dienden destijds een motie tot aanbeveling in die oproept om zo snel mogelijk werk te maken van de 2 procent-norm en niet tot 2035 te wachten”, vervolgt Ponthier. “En ik diende ook een vraag in aan minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Hadja Lahbib (MR), omtrent de Belgische opstelling op de afgelopen NAVO-vergadering. Wij vrezen namelijk dat Lahbib daar op de rem is gaan staan wat betreft budgettaire standaarden, omdat België zijn partners niet kan volgen.”
Niet alleen de geringe Belgische defensie-uitgaven op zich roepen vraagtekens op. Ook de manier waarop men het geld zal uitgeven baart het Vlaams Belang zorgen. “Er is nood aan allerlei nieuwe wapensystemen en uitrusting”, merkt Ponthier tot slot op. “Dedonder had daarin deels voorzien in haar programmawet. Maar door de tegenvallende miljardenfactuur voor de twee nieuwe fregatten zou het best kunnen dat heel wat programma’s on hold worden gezet. Voor onze Defensie is dat een regelrechte ramp.”