Armistice Day: Belgian defence union warns federal negotiators not to weaken military

Context

On 11 November 2019, Belgium commemorated the 101st anniversary of the Armistice, which ended the First World War. In the context of the ongoing negotiations on the federal budget, the Belgian defence union (ACMP-CGPM) has warned the federal negotiators not to weaken the military.

Negotiators warned

The ACMP-CGPM is concerned that the federal government is planning to make cuts to the military budget, which would weaken the country's defence capabilities. The union has warned that such cuts would be a "disaster" for the military and would put the country at risk.

Challenges faced by Belgium's military

The Belgian military is facing a number of challenges, including:

A shortage of personnel

A lack of funding

Outdated equipment

These challenges are making it difficult for the military to fulfil its mission of protecting the country. The ACMP-CGPM is calling on the federal government to address these challenges and to ensure that the military has the resources it needs.

Consequences of ignoring defense union's warning

If the federal government ignores the warning of the defence union and cuts the military budget, it could have a number of negative consequences, including:

A decrease in the number of military personnel

A decrease in the amount of training that military personnel receive

A decrease in the amount of equipment that the military has

An increase in the risk of the country being attacked

The ACMP-CGPM is urging the federal government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the military has the resources it needs to protect the country.