“ANDIn coordination with our F-16 allies and coalition partners, our country will do everything in its power to accelerate delivery, if possible before the end of this year,” said Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder, according to the RTBF channel.
The Brussels Government indicated that three criteria will have to be met: guarantee the security of Belgian territory, maintain the operability of its defense and respect international commitments, particularly within the framework of NATO.
Furthermore, Ukrainian pilots and technicians will have to be sufficiently trained to be able to operate these aircraft.
Belgium joined the international F-16 coalition in May last year and, initially, its participation was limited to training Ukrainian pilots and technical and logistical support personnel, similar to other countries such as Portugal.
After a study by the Ministry of Defense, the Government also decided to deliver aircraft, which must be removed from service and replaced by more modern F-35s.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced last October, together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during the latter’s surprise visit to Brussels, that Belgium would be in a position to supply Kiev with its fighter jets from 2025. .
Belgium also plans to send missiles for air defense systems from its own stocks, as well as allocating 200 million euros to participate in the German initiative to supply this equipment to Ukraine.
“We will continue to mobilize in the coming weeks to support Ukraine. Our message remains the same: the day Russia stops its invasion and gives up illegally occupied territories, the conflict will end,” declared Ludivine Dedonder, insisting that the Hostilities must cease and political and diplomatic dialogue resume.
In total, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Norway promised to send 45 fighters to Ukraine.
Kiev authorities have been demanding since the beginning of the invasion of Russia, in February 2022, the sending of modern fighters, but it was only in August last year that the United States approved the transfer of North American fighters from Denmark and the Netherlands, which they had already offered to provide these devices.
The arrival of the first devices was indicated to take place in the first half of this year, but no date has yet been revealed, at the same time that Ukrainian pilots and mechanical and logistical support personnel continue their training in several allied countries.
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