Ukraine and Belgium Signs 10 years long security agreement.

During the state visit of the Ukrainian president to Brussels on May 28, 2024, a security agreement was signed between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. The document, like other recently signed bilateral agreements, is valid for ten years from the date of its signing. Let's take a look at its contents.
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Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Alexander De Croo during the signing of the agreement between Ukraine and Belgium. May 28, 2024. (Picture source: Ukrainian Presidency office)

Military Aid

The agreement specifically provides for Belgium to supply military aid to Ukraine amounting to at least 977 million euros this year, as well as the obligation for Brussels to support Kyiv for the duration of the agreement. Support will also be provided through the dispatch of military equipment.

Belgium will continue efforts to improve the capability of Ukrainian security and defense forces to protect themselves against Russian aggression today, deter further aggression in the future, and enhance the compatibility of Ukrainian forces and means with NATO standards.

Belgian support will cover both short-term military needs and the long-term capacity building of Ukraine's future Defense Forces.

Additionally, Belgium will support efforts to equip the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Air Force, including F-16 aircraft, munitions, pilot and technical personnel training, long-term fighter maintenance, and the creation of appropriate conditions for their operation in Ukraine.

The security agreement also commits Belgium to deliver a total of 30 F-16s this year. It is likely that this number includes the F-16 fighters already promised, as it is specified that the first of these 30 should be delivered as early as this year.

Scientific, Technological, and Industrial Defense Collaboration

Separate sections of the document are dedicated to bilateral cooperation in the field of defense. The document states that Ukraine and Belgium will implement joint projects aimed at increasing the potential and production volume of the Ukrainian defense industry.

A technological cooperation is also planned to equip Ukraine with industries and technologies comparable to European levels. The cooperation will include potential technology transfer, partnerships, joint ventures, and investments.

Similar to the agreement signed between Ukraine and France, there will be a dominant cooperation between Belgium and Ukraine in the fields of intelligence, cybersecurity, and combating disinformation.

In response to the escalating situation, Operation "Crabe" was launched between January 30 and February 8, 2024, deploying tracked vehicles HT 270 for the first time to combat illegal gold mining. Previously, the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3 REI) relied on Bandvagn 206 (BV 206) vehicles. The decision to integrate HT 270 vehicles, acquired through the Union of Public Procurement Groups and militarized by Technamm, reflects a strategic shift in tackling the challenge posed by illegal mining activities.

The HT 270, equipped with a 169hp diesel engine and capable of carrying up to 16 infantrymen, marks a significant upgrade in mobility and firepower. Its deployment during Operation "Crabe" underscores the military's commitment to adapt and utilize advanced technology to combat illicit activities effectively. With a maximum speed of 58 km/h and a mount for a 7.62mm MAG 58 machine gun, the HT 270 enhances the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces in confronting the complex and evolving threat posed by illegal gold mining.

Despite these efforts, the persistence of illegal mining activities fueled by high gold prices and transnational networks underscores the need for sustained and coordinated action to address the root causes of the issue and safeguard the environment and local economies in French Guyana.