Belgian Defense Minister: NATO capability targets outdated, process too slow

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken publicly criticized NATO's capability targets, stating that the equipment Belgium is required to procure under current NATO guidelines would not meet the country's needs in a real war. He argues the four-year review cycle is too slow, with new targets not due until 2029. This marks a notable deviation from routine alliance compliance, signaling potential friction within NATO over burden-sharing and readiness.