Belgium to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters from 2025

Final decision depends on government in place by then, says Belgian premier

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) - Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Wednesday that Belgium will send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine beginning in 2025.

De Croo and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting ahead of a reunion of NATO defense ministers.

De Croo confirmed that his country will provide Ukraine the fighter aircraft but said the final decision “will depend on the government which is in place by then.”

Belgium will replace its fleet of fighter jets with the more modern F-32s, and “we will be giving away progressively the F-16 fleet as of 2025, depending on when F-32s can be fully deployed,” Defense Minister Ludovine Dedonder explained.

The country will also contribute to the maintenance of the aircraft.

Belgium will hold general elections next June.

NATO defense ministers are holding a two-day meeting to discuss, among others, further support for Ukraine, the crisis in Israel and the future of NATO missions.

Kaynak:

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