Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Currently, approximately 800 Belgian soldiers are deployed in operations in “all corners of the world”. Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said. The majority of them have been deployed in Lithuania and Romania, as components of the strengthening of NATO’s eastern command.
Why are Belgian soldiers deployed worldwide?
“We currently have a large number of soldiers who are engaged in operations or exercises and training,” the minister said during a press discussion about the operations. The bulk of the 800 soldiers in operation have been deployed in Romania and Lithuania, as part of NATO’s Forward Land Forces. They support the eastern flank of the alliance.
Given the war in the Gaza Strip, several Belgian military humanitarian flights also left last week for Egypt, where the goods organised for the people of the Gaza Strip were handed over to the Egyptian Red Cross. The defence has transported a total of more than 26 tons of aid for the civilian population of Gaza in recent weeks, the minister stated.
Defence previously also carried out nine prosperous air drops of a total of 164 tons of aid over the Gaza Strip. “It remains a drop in the ocean, but it was an important assistance to the international coalition that dropped goods from Jordan, as our country dropped 25 per cent of the total aid,” Dedonder stated.
What missions is the Belgian frigate Louise-Marie involved in?
The frigate Louise-Marie is currently partaking in the European protection mission Aspides in and around the Red Sea. According to Defense Chief (CHOD), Michel Hofman, this European mission “already ensured the safe transportation of more than 120 ships”.
“We note that the pace of attacks has declined in recent weeks,” he said during the press conference with the minister. According to the CHOD, this has to do with the Houthi rebels’ ammunition stock, but also with the information they acquire about shipping. “At the moment Aspides is a very positive operation, but we will have to keep this up. That is a challenge for the European navies.”
What training operations are Belgian soldiers conducting in Africa?
Belgian detachments have also been deployed in Africa, including for training local troops such as in Benin and Congo. Africa “remains an important region for our country, but the situation there is unfortunately worrying in several countries,”
Dedonder said. For example, the situation in the east of Congo, in Goma, is very precarious for the civilian population. Last week, the Defense carried out the first humanitarian flight with aids. A second flight carrying 60 tons of goods left Thursday, she said.
In addition, many soldiers, around 900, are on standby to intervene in Belgium or abroad in the event of a crisis. This also includes the DOVO deminers, the surveillance of the Benelux airspace by F-16s, the rescue helicopters in Koksijde and the coastal patrol vessels that are responsible for guarding Belgian waters and critical infrastructure. These vessels also sometimes have to escort Russian ships, Hofman said. “Last year there were 90 to 100 Russian vessels that passed through our territorial waters,” the defence chief said.
What exercises are Belgian soldiers involved in with NATO allies?
In addition, Belgium had an average of 2,000 soldiers per day in exercises or training at the national or international level in recent weeks and months. A dozen F-16 fighter planes were deployed in Norway this month to train with the Norwegian Air Force. Norway has already switched to the new F-35s, fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Several hundred Belgian soldiers also train together with Dutch and French colleagues in the evacuation of compatriots in difficult circumstances, in the exercise Storm Tide.
