Belgium confirms it met NATO's 2% of GDP defence spending target in 2025, a first in its alliance history

Summary

Belgium confirmed on 26 March 2026 that its 2025 defence expenditure reached 2% of gross domestic product, the first time in the country's NATO membership history that it has met the alliance's benchmark. The announcement came from Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) and was confirmed by Belgian national news agency Belga. The 2025 defence budget was approximately €12.8 billion. The milestone closes a gap that had made Belgium a recurring target of criticism from NATO allies and, in the Trump administration era, from US officials who repeatedly named it as a free-rider. The De Wever government has also published a Strategic Vision for 2026-2034 committing €34bn in defence investment, targeting 2.5% of GDP by 2034 and 3.5% by 2035, in line with commitments made at the June 2025 NATO Hague Summit. Major procurement items in the plan include a third frigate, 1,500 new combat vehicles, 2,100 logistical vehicles, additional F-35A fighters, major air defence and counter-drone systems, and expanded cyber and space capabilities.

The split

The De Wever government presented the 2% confirmation as a mark of restored NATO credibility, with Francken describing Belgium as "once again a reliable NATO partner." NATO Alliance Secretary General framing of the Hague Summit outcome as a new floor of 2% gave Belgium a target to meet publicly. US officials, including those in the Trump administration, had cited Belgium by name as a NATO laggard in 2024 and 2025. Opposition parties in Belgium's parliament criticised the pace and scale of the spending increase as coming at the expense of domestic social programmes, particularly given the simultaneous Arizona austerity package. Russia's government described European defence spending increases as "escalatory."

By the numbers

• 2.0%, Belgium's 2025 defence spending as a share of GDP (first time at NATO target)
• €12.8bn, approximate Belgium 2025 defence budget
• 1.0%, Belgium's defence spending share of GDP in 2020
• 1.27%, Belgium's defence spending share of GDP in 2024
• €34bn, Belgium's Strategic Vision defence investment commitment for 2026-2034
• 2.5%, Belgium's GDP defence spending target for 2034
• 3.5%, Belgium's GDP defence spending target for 2035

Why it matters

Belgium's 2% confirmation matters symbolically and institutionally. Symbolically, it removes a chronic irritant in NATO solidarity narratives, particularly relevant given the Trump administration's repeated warnings about allied burden-sharing. Institutionally, the €34bn Strategic Vision commits Belgium's defence procurement pipeline for nearly a decade, with real consequences for Saab, MBDA, and European defence companies. Belgium's adherence also strengthens the EU case that European NATO allies can collectively hit the 2% floor without requiring a general election mandate for rearmament. The pace at which Belgium translates the Strategic Vision into signed contracts will determine whether the headline numbers are politically real.

What to watch

• Whether Belgium's parliament approves each annual budget tranche of the Strategic Vision without cuts.
• Whether the 3.5% of GDP commitment for 2035 survives changes of government before then.
• Whether Belgium's third frigate order and F-35 additions are placed with contracts by end-2026.
• Whether the EU's defence budget mechanism (SAFE, European Defence Fund) co-finances Belgian procurement under the Strategic Vision.