In order to enhance its military presence on NATO's eastern flank, the Belgian army is confronted with a decision to either deploy troops to Lithuania as part of a brigade under German
command or to Romania under French command. This analysis comes from Alexander Mattelaer, a professor at VUB and a researcher at the Egmont Institute, a think-tank associated with the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs.
According to Mattelaer's report published by the Egmont Institute, the crucial consideration for Belgian defense planners lies in determining the concentration of their land forces' deployment along the eastern front. This assessment comes just before the gathering of leaders from the 31 NATO member countries in Vilnius, where decisions will be made to bolster the Allies' military position, particularly in Eastern Europe.
Belgian military presence in Eastern Europe currently involves the deployment of its ground component in Lithuania for approximately six months each year as part of a multinational "tactical group" led by Germany. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has expressed willingness to expand the battalion into a 4,000-strong brigade, whereas the current division comprises 800 troops.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Belgium has also been participating in a French-led battlegroup stationed in Romania. Recently, it reinforced the battlegroup in Cincu (central Romania) by deploying 300 additional troops.
Investments in the Belgian military have been prompted by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, marking a departure from years of budget cuts. Last year, the government passed the Military Programming Act, which raised the defense budget by 11 billion euros.
Belgium aims to increase its troop count from 25,000 to 29,000 by 2030 and has allocated additional resources to combat aircraft. The question now lies in whether these efforts will suffice to ensure Belgium's presence on all fronts. Photo by U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kelly LeGuillon, Wikimedia commons.