2023-12-20 05:02:00
In this physical war like nerves, Belgium has a preponderant role to play and our Minister of Defense, Ludivine Dedonder, confirmed this by unveiling “her” 2024 calendar during a trip to her detached troops on Monday in Romania, then Tuesday in Lithuania.
On land and at sea
“We essentially have a Belgian presence on the eastern flank following the context. Through a detachment, Belgium will still be present, in 2024, in Romania, within the French battle group, with more than 250 soldiers and around thirty civil engineering. It will also be in Lithuania, with the aim of deterring and ensuring the security of NATO’s borders, in particular with four F-16s and 75 soldiers until the end of March. Obviously, following the invasion in Ukraine, NATO is on a reinforced vigilance mission.” A defense by Defense which also involves cold waters… “In 2024, the frigate Louise Marie will be deployed for four weeks. We will also deploy a mine hunter in the Baltic and North Seas for six months.”
Still not in Ukraine but at his side
Precisely aimed at the front, “to date, we have trained more than 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers. Around thirty Belgian soldiers will continue to do so in different areas: combat, medical support, instructor training, acting in the face of threats chemical, biological, nuclear…” Instruction given in NATO countries including directly in our lands.
During the visit to the Belgians in “Belgoville”, a camp in the heart of Romania. ©EdA
As part of the coalition, Belgium will continue to train Zelensky’s men so that they can become future F-16 pilots. “We plan to send two planes to Denmark, with around fifty soldiers for 2 x 2 months. We will also have two instructor pilots for Alpha Jet sent to France, to Cazaux.”
On the seas, with its mastery of mine hunters, our country will still have a role to play in 2024. “We have started training Ukrainian soldiers on this operational tactic and, ultimately, we plan to donate a mine hunter.”
Finally, addressing the aspect of war crimes, the minister said she was ready to support the International Criminal Court thanks to our expertise. “For a maximum of 16 weeks, we have the possibility of sending around ten soldiers, if this is implemented in 2024.”
Congo and Benin, our two main axes
Far from the cold, the minister also wants Belgium to keep an eye on Africa and the Strait of Hormuz. There, it is inevitably terrorism that is in the crosshairs. But not only.
In the Republic of Congo, Belgium will have a detachment of several soldiers there for four weeks. They will be involved in the “United for Peace and Security” project. Other black-yellow-red men will be responsible for renovating the Kindu military camp for four months. “We have resumed collaborations with the Congo. Thus, in Kindu, we will also “recycle” the people already trained with us. An “update” which will allow these soldiers to then train their troops themselves”summarizes the minister, promising other deployments.
In Benin, the Belgian Defense also wants to send “around ten soldiers in the north for three weeks. This project provides support in terms of equipment and materials to units stationed in the north of the country. This support is provided by our country but financed by Europe”.
The fight once morest terrorism is therefore also our business. “In this context, we will therefore send a detachment of around fifteen soldiers.”
As for Iraq, we know that Daesh remains a threat. Alongside around seventy countries united in this fight, “we continue to analyze data and information…”
And with us?
The minister does not forget to take a look within our borders. The military here is responsible for airspace protection, mine clearance, a burn center, etc. “With the various crises that have occurred in our territory, it is also important to be ready at home and very quickly. Thus, 120 soldiers are always ready to intervene quickly.”
Support for troops in Romania and Lithuania
Respecting tradition, Minister Dedonder spent Monday and Tuesday in Romania, then in Lithuania, meeting “her” men who will spend Christmas there.
This Tuesday morning in Lithuania, meeting with one of the Belgian detachments. ©EdA
It is traditional for the head of Defense to go into the field, to meet his troops, on the sidelines of the end-of-year celebrations. An “End of Year Tour” still respected since Minister Ludivine Dedonder was in Romania this Monday. Currently, more than 250 Belgian soldiers are there, half of whom are from the Tournai barracks alone, coming for the first time. Through a rotation system, they remain there for four months and are currently halfway through their urban training allowing them to face different scenarios of aggression from an invader included in the deterrence plan of NATO. It is therefore confirmed: they will spend Christmas far from their loved ones.
“We sometimes have to be able to sacrifice the holidays to be able to ensure security and peace, and I wanted to encourage these soldiers who will stay far from their families. And beyond the tradition of a meeting before Christmas, it is important for me to be regularly on the ground. Here, this detachment in Romania aims to ensure the security of our borders, training with the French allowing us to increase the level of preparation. A Belgian-French battalion, therefore, is a staff trained together and who improve their skills togetherinsists Ms. Dedonder, making it clear that everyone has to learn, if not gain from the other. This is the third time I have come to Romania and, each time, I see changes.”
This Monday and Tuesday, in Romania then in Lithuania, the minister went to meet the seconded Belgians in order to encourage them and offer them a present on the sidelines of Christmas. ©EdA
This strong presence there, on this eastern flank of Europe since 2022, is not trivial. “It is indeed with the aim of deterring and ensuring the security of NATO’s borders and we will therefore have, once more in 2024, a detachment here, in Romania, as well as in Lithuania”
Four Belgian F-16s as lookout in the Baltic
It was then through this second country that she passed yesterday, via a flight bypassing Ukraine. A meeting in particular with the Baltic air police on alert 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ready to act if suspicious activity is observed at the Alliance’s borders. Currently, Belgium has four F-16s ready to take off within fifteen minutes and a detachment of 75 men.
1703134405
#year #NATO #assures #Minister #Defense #photosvideos
