Defence Chief Frederik Vansina has urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency to streamline processes such as the acquisition of weapons.
Vansina highlighted that Belgium lacks a system to assess overall security conditions, unlike the threat levels provided by the OCAD. He suggested that defining a crisis state would enable actions not possible during peacetime.
He also emphasised the need to secure ports and digital networks, criticising the current peacetime pace of procurement. “While we remain mired in sluggish and protracted government procedures, Putin’s factories are producing tanks, aircraft, and artillery round the clock,” Vansina stated.
Currently, the Defence Staff is preparing a proposal for Defence Minister Theo Francken.
