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04:35I know that we need to do more, but it's quite a process.
04:41We're investing highly, we're doing so much, but I cannot do in 18 months.
04:46I'm a minister, I cannot do it in 18 months, but it has been neglected for 40 years.
04:50Now Belgium is back again, but it takes time.
04:54I think it's going in the right direction.
04:57Have we already all the capabilities that I want to have? No.
05:02It takes time also. Industry cannot follow.
05:05When I'm buying Patriots, I have to wait 10 years to get them.
05:10We're in a very difficult position at this moment.
05:15Europe has been very good in investing in soft power, in social security,
05:20and it's beautiful to have a pension system, to have social welfare systems.
05:24When somebody gets sick, when somebody's lost his job, we have everything.
05:30But when there's war or when there's hybrid threats, we don't, we have anything.
05:35So yeah, we were in a really difficult position, and Belgium was a really bad pupil in the past,
05:40but trying to step up, we have a stable government, and trying to do what we need to do.
05:46Of course, and it's my understanding that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will be here today.
05:50What would you communicate to him about your plans to get Belgium on that 3.5% of GDP core
05:57defense spending target?
05:58Because, as you rightly pointed out, Belgium is not there yet.
06:01Two things.
06:02I think that's NATO capability targets will be.
06:07Normally, we have new NATO capability targets in 29.
06:11I think that we need an update sooner and faster.
06:15I think it's too slow.
06:16I think that the things that Belgium needs to buy from NATO are not the things that will be useful
06:23when there's war, I'm afraid.
06:25So that is one thing that we need to talk about within NATO.
06:28And on Belgian budgets, we have the worst budget of EU.
06:32We have the biggest, highest debt of EU.
06:34We're talking about the budget as we speak.
06:37But saying that Belgium will meet the 5% tomorrow, we won't.
06:41We have 3.5%, we have the 2% core spending, 1.5% broader spending on security issues.
06:47So we have 7 out of 10.
06:50When my girl comes home, she's 17 from school and she has a 7 out of 10.
06:54That's not too bad.
06:56But I know that the most difficult is the 1.5% core defense spending that we still need to
07:01do.
07:01So, yes, I'm working on it very, very hard, believe me.
07:06One final question.
07:07Do you think the prime minister is receptive to your lobbying efforts to boost the defense budget?
07:12But my prime minister, Bart de Bever, is a very strong leader and he's a very, very intelligent guy.
07:19So he knows what's happening in the world.
07:21And he's telling me, yes, I know.
07:23And I'm asking for more money.
07:26He knows.
07:26But he's not alone in the government.
07:29Belgium is a federal country with five political parties in the government.
07:33You have the Dutch-speaking, the French-speaking.
07:35That is not always the same in Belgium.
07:36Quite interesting country we have.
07:39So it will be difficult.
07:42But I'm pushing for this.
07:43And Bart is pro-defense, 100%.
07:45So, yeah, he knows.
07:47But he's the prime minister.
07:49You know, he has to make the compromise.
07:51Yeah, I guess he's the boss.
07:52Thank you so much, defense minister, for taking the time to talk to us.
07:54Thank you.
07:55Thank you.
07:59Thank you.
