Meer Europese defensiesamenwerking, geen EU-leger!
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De commissie Landsverdediging bracht woensdag een bezoek aan de Ämari-luchtmachtbasis in Estland, waar F-16-piloten van het Belgische leger deelnemen aan de NAVO-missie ‘Enhanced Air Policing’. “De doelstelling is de bescherming van het NAVO-luchtruim boven de Baltische Staten”, zegt Kamerlid Steven Creyelman. “Deze sterke samenwerking met onze Europese partners toont aan dat een werkbaar Europees defensieverband, vergelijkbaar met de NAVO, mogelijk is.”
Door de Russische militaire agressie in Oekraïne hebben NAVO-missies als die in de Baltische Staten aan belang gewonnen. “Dat belet ons echter niet om naar een Europees defensieverband te streven, want onze goede samenwerking met Europese NAVO-partners in Estland toont hiervan het potentieel aan”, aldus Creyelman. “Inzake de voorbereiding van gezamenlijke operaties met de verschillende gevechtsvliegtuigen en uitwisseling van specifieke knowhow wordt veel vooruitgang geboekt.”
“De links-liberale natte droom van een Europees leger laten we aan ons voorbijgaan”
“Dit wil niet zeggen dat het Vlaams Belang ook streeft naar een EU-leger”, vervolgt Creyelman. “Europa is een amalgaam van verschillende naties met uiteenlopende veiligheidsbelangen, één leger zal nooit werken. Grootmachten als Duitsland en Frankrijk zouden hun wil opleggen aan de kleinere landen.”
Bij het bezoek kwamen ook de defensie-inspanningen van de NAVO-landen ter sprake. “Estland, waar 2,4 procent van het BBP naar Defensie gaat, neemt zijn defensie zeer ernstig”, merkt Creyelman tot slot op. “Met een gelijkaardig klein budget als België heeft het land aangetoond dat je wel een performant strijdkracht kan uitbouwen met beperkte middelen, en daar kan de Belgische regering nog wat van leren.”