Military service members always serve at the risk of their own life. I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of three members of the 🇬🇧 Royal Navy during a helicopter training exercise in Devon. My thoughts are with @defenceHQ and all those who have lost loved ones. #RoyalNavy #RIP #MilitaryService #GB
(TR) 264 savings proposals from the Planning Bureau. 0 proposals to cut defense spending. Defense has been systematically underfunded for decades. Finally, this has come to an end. The geopolitical situation is critical. Political leaders must take this seriously and put a stop to it.
(TR) The left-populist attacks on Defense just won't stop. Today it's Conner Rousseau in HUMO and Peter Mertens in De Standaard (incredibly weak interview by the way, zero resistance, just like the Marxist members' magazine). The extra budgets for Defense are
(TR) Sitting without frigates is not an option. We are a maritime nation. We need firepower at sea, especially in these times.
(TR) Many soldiers are wondering how far the government has progressed with the development of the new social agreement. Some are doing so with a necessary impatience. After all, the agreement was already signed in July of last year. Therefore, I will provide an update on the progress that has been made.
(TR) Yesterday, the Chamber approved an important pension reform. It was as necessary as it was urgent. The figures speak for themselves. In 2020, pension expenditures amounted to around 52 billion euros. By 2024, that had already risen to 70 billion euros. That increase had to be slowed down.
When a Russian drone crashes into a building in Galați - or anywhere else on the territory of a NATO ally or an EU member state - lines our being crossed. This is unacceptable and irresponsible, and Belgium stands in solidarity with Romania. We are in close contact with the #Ukraine #NATO #Solidarity #RO #BE
La lutte contre l’immigration illégale, tout comme celle contre l’extrémisme violent et le terrorisme international, reste une « priorité absolue pour notre sécurité collective ». Les menaces ne s’arrêtent pas aux frontières de l’Europe. Ce qu’il se passe en Afrique du Nord, au Sahel ou au Moyen-Orient a un impact direct sur les flux de migration illégale en direction de notre pays.
(TR) These Ukrainian war veterans are walking the 20 km of Brussels on Sunday. I spoke with them at length yesterday and listened to their life stories. They were seriously injured but survived. Many of their comrades did not. This insane war must stop. Russia must finally...
C'est magnifique ! Ici dans le pays noir.
(TR) Today we are taking an important step for the safety of our country and Europe. Thanks to SAFE, Belgium gains access to 8.34 billion euros in favorable European funding to accelerate the strengthening of Defense. We are investing together with European partners in modern...
(TR) I have had my share of confrontations with Dries Van Langenhove. Quite a lot, even. And I am appalled by the biological racism that shapes his thinking. Still, I want to share my concerns with you about his recent conviction. 👇🏻 Arbitrariness One person is not treated the same in Belgium.
Onze militaires sont déployés à Charleroi en appui à la police afin d’assurer la protection des lieux fréquentés par la communauté juive.
Ние сме готови да поемем отговорност за възстановяването на свободното корабоплаване в района.
(TR) Terrible accident in Buggenhout. No words for it. Thank you to the emergency services and the care staff. A lot of strength to the victims and their relatives.
Belgium owes much, if not everything, to the brave allied soldiers that gave their lives during World War II. The young men that rest here at Ardennes Cemetery came from all across the USA. They put their lives at risk without hesitation, not to liberate their own country, but to https://t.co/eB7xgv94am #WWII #ArdennesCemetery #BraveSoldiers #BE #US
Cela prendra un an et demi avant de pouvoir partir en opération
Today I delivered a keynote for Cybersec Europe in Brussels. My main take-away? The AI-revolution is transforming state-on-state cyberwarfare. Building a resilient defense against AI-driven cyberattacks requires constant pooling of data on cyberthreats amongst NATO-allies. https://t.co/34V511fzkZ #CybersecEurope #Cyberwarfare #AIsecurity #BE #NATO
RT @POLITICOEurope: EXCLUSIVE: NATO has no viable alternative to Palantir’s battlefield AI technology, a top alliance commander told POLITI… #NATO #Palantir #AItechnology #Nospecificcountrycodescanbeidentifiedinthetweetprovided.
RT @Sophie_Wilmes: Sometimes, we have to restate the obvious. As October 7, 2023 grows more distant, we must not lose sight of one essenti… #October7 #NeverForget #RestateTheObvious #Nospecificcountrycodesarementionedinthetweet.
During the night from Monday 18 May to Tuesday 19 May, around 140 Belgian graves were vandalized at the Belgian military cemetery in Houthulst, which is managed by the War Heritage Institute. A large number of metal memorial plaques were pried loose from the gravestones, with https://t.co/isQch6vqD8 #Houthulst #Vandalism #WarHeritage #BE
Theo Francken: On ne peut pas prendre la Défense en otage
(TR) Yesterday I visited SHAPE, the NATO military command center in Bergen. I was warmly welcomed by the SACEUR, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, the American ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ General Grynkewich. We had an open conversation about the current threats, the Belgian.
(TR) ‼️Mohammed Khatib, the terrorist leader of Samidoun in Europe and asylum fraudster, is being added to the black OFAC sanctions list of the U.S. Department of the Treasury starting today. No more of those decolonize and intifada propaganda trips through Europe. Thank you @USTreasury
RT @eye_walking: I’ve been watching Ukraine’s drone production curve for two years, and the 2026 numbers just crossed a structural threshol… #Ukraine #droneproduction #2026 #UA
RT @ralakbar: NEW!! US approves $236m missile sale to Belgium as Europe races to rearm State Dept clears transfer of AGM-184 joint strik… #MissileSale #USMilitary #EuropeDefense #US #BE
On @AljaziraArabic, I announced Belgium will join the European naval coalition led by France and the UK to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with a minehunter and mine-clearing expertise, once a stable cease-fire is reached. Freedom of navigation in Hormuz is vital. Iranian tolls https://t.co/yE8tiuJZiu #StraitOfHormuz #NavalCoalition #FreedomOfNavigation #BE #FR #UK #IR
(TR) Counterterrorism, last weekend: ❌ Leader of Islamic Jihad taken out. ❌ Number two of Al Qaeda taken out in Nigeria. ❌ Military leader of Hamas taken out. ❌ Top commander of Hezbollah in Iraq and IRGC asset arrested and handed over to the US. He was planning attacks in
(TR) The suspected mastermind behind the recent attacks on Jewish targets in Europe, including Belgium, has been arrested by the FBI. He is a high-ranking member of Hezbollah in Iraq. A terrorist Shia organization that receives its orders, training, and money from the
(TR) What. A. Image. 205 Ukrainian prisoners of war are back home, after 4 years of hardship. I can't imagine what they have endured. This is the first phase of the 1,000 for 1,000 exchange deal that President Trump secured after months of difficult negotiations.
(TR) What. A. Picture. 205 Ukrainian prisoners of war are back home, after 4 years of deprivation. I cannot imagine what they have endured. This is the first phase of the 1,000 for 1,000 swap deal that President Trump secured after months of difficult negotiations.
Theo Francken: Today was truly a big step forward.
(TR) … maximally focusing on the purchase of modern weapon systems such as drones and cyber, but also ammunition (stocks are extremely low) and air defense (we have nothing, completely irresponsible). We are guided by NATO's military plans as our defense
Theo Francken: I disagree with this approach and noted that von der Leyen did not speak on behalf of Belgium.
Theo Francken: Après les États-Unis, la Turquie a l’armée la plus puissante de l’Otan : c’est nous qui devons apprendre d’eux.
Theo Francken: I concluded the economic mission in an armored truck.
Theo Francken: Des annonces arriveront ces prochaines semaines. Les négociations se poursuivent, mais d’autres annonces arriveront ces prochaines semaines. Nous n’allons pas acheter n’importe quoi.
(TR) Greenland deal in sight: after months of silence, the US, Greenland, and Denmark are getting closer to an agreement.
Signed a Letter of Intent today in Ankara with @YasarGulermsb & @halukgorgun. Maritime cooperation, joint defence industry, IP protection — concrete commitments between two NATO allies who mean business. Türkiye has built one of the most impressive defence industries in the https://t.co/3OzhOFplpu #NATO #DefenseCooperation #MaritimeSecurity #TR #US
(TR) The Belgian Minister of Defense Theo Francken was amazed by Turkey's defense industry. "We visited Baykar. It truly exceeds expectations..."
(TR) "We want to be strong again. We will learn this from Turkey."
(TR) Belgium's Minister of Defense and Foreign Trade, Theo Francken: ➖"Turkey is one of the main pillars of NATO. The strongest allies of NATO...
(TR) Belgium's Defence Minister Theo Francken: Türkiye should be included in the SAFE mechanism created to finance Europe's de…
(TR) "Turkish naval vessels are gradually gaining ground on the global market"
The Strait of Hormuz blocked. The global economy in a chokehold. France and the UK step up: a multinational military mission to restore freedom of navigation. 🇫🇷🇬🇧 The coordination meeting is going well. Belgium is in. Our mine countermeasures capability is world-class — and https://t.co/LgH4WKS8eS #StraitOfHormuz #GlobalEconomy #MilitaryCoordination #FR #GB #BE
Visited Istanbul Strait Command today 🇹🇷 Guardians of one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints. With war on the Black Sea — drifting mines, Montreux Convention in play — the stakes couldn’t be higher. This waterway is a lifeline for the global economy. And Hormuz is a https://t.co/RJLMqWz1tN #IstanbulStrait #MaritimeSecurity #GlobalEconomy #TR
Visit to Teknopark Istanbul: 600+ high-tech companies, 11,000 engineers and a huge innovation power. General Phaleg, General Van Strythem and 60 Belgian companies are building strategic technological cooperation here. #Innovation #Belgium #Türkiye https://t.co/Pk4bI2HGyb #Innovation #TechCooperation #Belgium #BE #TR
Visit to the SEDEF shipyards in Istanbul 🇹🇷 Thousands of workers on the floor — welding, drilling, bolting. Real industry. Leading a large delegation of Belgian entrepreneurs, supported by @FITflanders. A wake-up call: countries that bet solely on services are building on sand. https://t.co/LAJnJXLe5l #Manufacturing #Industry #Innovation #TR #BE
