BRUSSELS — Belgium's Defense Minister Steven Vandeput says his country has no plans to scale back its participation in the military actions against the Islamic State (IS) group.

"We must show that we mean business," he told Belgian media in the wake of the deadly Nov. 13 Paris attacks.

Vandeput said Belgium would continue to participate in military action until IS is "are forced to its knees."

Belgium has long been involved in the fight against IS through the deployment of F-16 aircraft and guidance of the French ship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle by the frigate Leopold I.

When asked if participating in military action against IS inevitably increased risk of a Paris-style attack in Belgium, he respondedsaid, "Our country is a target as any other country in the West is a target."

Vandeput said Belgium had been involved in the international coalition against IS  "from day one" and "there could be no talk of a rollback" in such participation.

IS can be best tackled in different ways, he said, including through diplomacy, according to Vandeput. He cited diplomatic solutions, but added that military intervention is also necessary. He said, "IS is not just a state. It is a terrorist group that you need to force to their knees."

The minister also told Belgian newspaper Le Soir that in the wake of the Paris attacks, the deployment of armed forces will be increased "for large events."

Currently, Belgium has 220 soldiers on the streets to help protect key buildings including embassies and European Union institutions. Belgium has raised the terror threat level for the whole country to "serious, probable" from "moderate, less probable," and cancelled the national soccer team’s Tuesday game on 17 November against Spain.

Shortly before the Paris attacks, The Belgian Minister of Defense Steven Vandeput recently found himself having to defended his country in the face of an attack by when the US ambassador to Belgium, Denise Bauer, who implored the Benelux state to invest more in defense. She said that while Belgium has a "strong reputation" as a reliable NATO ally, after "two decades of defense cuts" it is now among NATO members that devote to defense the lowest percentage of their GDPgross domestic product.

Bauer’s suggestion that prioritiszing defense spending would be necessary for Belgium to remain a credible military partner for the Americans caused something of a minor diplomatic spat between the two countries.

Vandeput, a relative newcomer to politics having previously been managing director of a construction company, has been in his current role (which also covers responsibility for the civil service) since October 2014.

With the Belgian government due to present a new strategic plan for defense in the coming weeks, Vandeput, 48, spelled out his country’s defense priorities and touched on the challenge posed by "renewed Russian assertiveness" in an interview with Defense News prior to the attacks in Paris.

Q. What are Belgium's defense equipment priorities in the next five years?

A. Our focus will be on starting up several major investment programs such as the replacement of the F-16, the replacement of our frigates and mine-hunter vessels and new investment programs for our land in general: equipment, vehicles and arms.

Other priorities are an assessment of our current infrastructure and the consequent necessary modernization.

Q. As the cost of the F-35 continues to rise, can Belgium afford to buy the aircraft when it comes to deciding on a new fighter or will you follow Canada's policy of looking for something cheaper?

A. The F-35 is only one of the possible candidates for the replacement of the F-16.

Q. Belgium is one of the worst offenders when it comes to meeting NATO spending targets of 2 percent of GDP. Do you see any prospect of defense spending rising toward that goal anytime soon?

A. The government will decide on a strategic plan (for defense) soon.

Q. Europe is a dangerous place again with Russia becoming more aggressive. Has that caused Belgium to rethink the military capabilities it might need in the future in light of the changing security environment?

A. At the start of the current legislature, I ordered an updated study of the Belgian and European security environment. This analysis shows that Belgium and Europe will face several security threats in the coming years. The renewed Russian assertiveness is one issue. But the same can also be said of the enduring instability in the Sahel region and conflicts in the Middle East plus climate change.

Q. What's the view from Brussels on the creation of a European army?

A. Today, there is no political consensus in Europe about a European centralized army.

Q. Pooling and sharing of capabilities between Belgium and its neighbours has had some success, but is there more you want to do?

A. Belgium works together a lot with the Netherlands, but also with Luxemburg and France.

Q. Rather than cutting defense budgets, US Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James has called for an increase in defense spending by European allies. Do you agree?

A. All European allies have increased their defense budget or are discussing increases in their budget.

Q. Aside from the potential impact defense cuts may have on tackling the ongoing threat from Islamic terrorists, there are fears that such a policy could play directly into the hands of Russia as it increasingly seeks to flex its military muscles in countries that formerly formed part of the Soviet Union. Do you agree?

A. Europe has to play its role, as well in defense as in political solutions

Q. How important do you regard the role NATO can play in the modern world? Is NATO still relevant and does it command the necessary political support and will from EU member states?

A. NATO is, and will be, together with the EU, the most important actor to organize the collective defense and security of its member states.

Q. Could cooperation on defense between NATO and the EU be improved and, if so, how?

A. EU and NATO have complementary roles, and this complementarity can further be enhanced.

Q. How do you see Belgium's role in NATO?

A. Belgium is host to NATO and SHAPE and will be a loyal and reliable partner.

Q. Do you agree with those who say the alliance is being "tested" by Russian President Vladimir Putin and, if so, what should the response be?

A. NATO responds with the RAP, or "Readiness Action Plan." (This is the most significant reinforcement of NATO's collective defense since the end of the Cold War. The RAP addresses risks and threats from the east and the south).

Belgian defense also participates in several operations and trainings in this regard. We had the Baltic Pirhana exercise last month in Lithuania with participation of more than 300 Belgian soldiers of the land component; and earlier this year we also participated in the Enhanced Baltic Air Policing mission for four months with four F-16’s. Those are necessary measures to reassure our NATO-allies who feel Russian pressure at their borders.

Q. Are you satisfied with the response thus far from the West (and NATO) to the crisis in Syria and the perceived threat posed by Russia? What more could effectively be done in this area?

A. In Syria, the situation has become more difficult with the recent interference of Russia and the position of President Assad. Let’s just hope that both a military and diplomatic solution for Syria will be found in the coming months.

Q. What or who do you see as the biggest threat to global stability — Russia, China or maybe climate change?

A. The combination of several threats at the same time will be the main challenge. They cannot be prioritized.

Q. What do you see as the biggest challenges in terms of defense facing Belgium and Europe in the future?

A. The instability in our eastern and southern periphery is the most imminent threat: increasing Russian assertiveness, the race for the North Pole commodities once the ice caps draw further back, the remaining instability in the Middle East with direct consequences for Europe via migration and the phenomenon of foreign fighters turning back, plus climate change which can be a trigger for a new northbound migration flow from the African continent.

Q. What should be done to address these issues?

A. Unfortunately, one tailor-made solution to address all expected crises doesn't exist and will never exist. Military intervention is only a little part of a bigger approach, which should also contain a coherent European diplomacy strategy together with a smart development program.

Q. What did you set out to accomplish as defense minister?

A. My biggest challenge for this legislative term is to leave behind a new strategic plan for the Belgian armed forces, including necessary investments in weapon systems, infrastructure, personnel and the introduction of new lean processes. This will give future governments the opportunity to address international problems with a multitude of possibilities amongst which a modern, flexible, high-tech defense.

Email: mbanks@defensenews.com.

About Martin Banks

Martin Banks covered the European Union, NATO and affairs in Belgium for Defense News.

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