Editing Belgian Armed Forces (section)

===Future===
The future of the Belgian armed forces under the leadership of Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder involves a significant rebuilding and expansion effort. After years of budgetary cuts, Belgium aims to boost its defense budget and capabilities to meet the challenges of a changing security landscape, particularly in the wake of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].

The key aspects of the plan include:

*Increased Investment: The Belgian government has announced the STAR Plan, a substantial increase in defense spending to reach 1.54 percent of GDP by 2030 and two percent by 2035, in line with NATO's target.
*Personnel Expansion: For the first time since conscription ended in 1993, Belgium's armed forces will be expanded from the current 25,000 to 29,000 personnel by 2030.
*Infrastructure Development: New military bases will be built, and planned closures of other bases will be canceled, while keeping facilities decentralized to offer workplaces closer to personnel's homes.
*Emphasis on Cyber and Intelligence: The recent establishment of a new cyber command center reflects the focus on countering hybrid threats and investing in modern capabilities.
*Addressing Extremism: The armed forces are addressing concerns about far-right extremism within their ranks by reinforcing the military intelligence service and improving communication and cooperation with other security services.

Overall, Dedonder's vision is to ensure that Belgium's defense is well-prepared, adequately funded, and capable of operating within European, NATO, or United Nations frameworks to contribute to collective defense and respond to emerging security challenges effectively.
<ref name="The Brussels Times">{{cite web|title=Interview: Belgian Defence Minister pledges to rebuild country’s armed forces|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/341401/interview-defence-minister-ludivine-dedonder-pledges-to-rebuild-belgiums-armed-forces/|website=www.brusselstimes.com}}</ref>