The Belgian Workers’ Party (PVDA/PTB) opposes increasing the defence budget, confirmed Flemish MP Jos D’Haese on VRT’s political programme “De Zevende Dag” on Sunday.
He believes it leads to an “arms race” that heightens the risk of war. Jos D’Haese views the current political climate as alarmist, questioning who benefits from it. “Do we really think Putin will be in Brussels’ Grand-Place the day after tomorrow?” According to him, Defence Minister Theo Francken and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are the main proponents of this alarmism.
D’Haese estimates the proposed budget increase to be “four billion euros by June” and advocates for diplomacy instead. “Deterrence already exists. Europe is not a weak continent. Most countries fear us. Haven’t we learned anything from the Cold War? If we want to reduce tension, we need dialogue, not escalation.”
He also considers US President Donald Trump to be a greater threat to world peace than Russian President Vladimir Putin. “This doesn’t mean Putin is innocent. He is the aggressor in Ukraine,” he concludes.
