Flanders is completely breaking with its pacifist tradition: “A change in mentality is imperative”

The Flemish government is breaking with the past and completely abandoning its reticence towards the defense industry. All universities, colleges and knowledge centers must get involved.

Matthias Diependaele, Flemish Minister-President, has almost a defence plan, except that Vooruit wants guarantees for a strict ban on arms exports to Israel. Will this plan enable Belgium to achieve the objectives set by NATO?

The pacifist culture that the Flemish parties have advocated since the 1990s is partly being thrown overboard with the defense plan of Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele. While the sector welcomes the abolition of the rules for defense research, the creation of a defense fund of up to 1 billion euros seems to be mainly a political stunt.