The Belgian soldiers will act within the framework of a mission of protection and deterrence within the framework of NATO’s increased vigilance, decreed after the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army.
In a few days, Belgium will send a detachment the size of a combined arms company of 300 soldiers to Romania, within a French “Battle Group”. This deployment will be placed under the leadership of the First and Third Lancers, a battalion quartered in Marche-en-Famenne.
Their mission is part of NATO’s Rapid Reaction Force, activated following the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army. A first in the history of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Send a message
“What until now was hypothetical for many of us is becoming a reality for Defence, for its personnel and for the entire Nation. This moment is a major geopolitical moment,” said Minister Dedonder. “It is a question of sending the message that we have troops available who are ready to defend NATO territory against possible aggression from an adversary”, underlined for his part the Chief of Defense, the Admiral Michael Hofman.
The Minister of Defense also confirmed that some of the arms and ammunition sent by Belgium to Ukraine had arrived safely. “The rest is on its way,” she said, without giving further details, for security reasons.