Theo Francken Between National Controversy and Military Diplomacy: Turkey as a Strategic Partner

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken continues to surprise. After sparking controversy during the July 21 National Day— pointedly refusing to shout “Vive la Belgique” alongside Bart De Wever—he is now on an official visit to Turkey, holding a series of economic and military meetings. His gesture at Anıtkabir, kneeling before Atatürk’s mausoleum, has caused a shockwave in Belgium’s political circles.

A Symbolic Gesture at Odds with Separatist Rhetoric
For a minister from a Flemish party advocating confederalism, such a tribute to one of the founding fathers of a strong centralized state may appear contradictory. Francken seems determined to show that beyond Belgium’s community disputes, he is acting as a responsible and pragmatic Defense Minister, focused on strengthening strategic alliances.

Turkey: An Unavoidable Military Partner
Francken’s choice of Ankara and Istanbul as destinations is no coincidence.

Turkish defense industry: In recent years, Turkey has emerged as a competitive and innovative supplier of drones, land defense systems, and cybersecurity solutions.

NATO member: Despite political tensions, Turkey remains a key ally within the transatlantic security framework, making it a credible interlocutor for Belgium.

Francken has been holding press conferences, negotiating agreements, and signing partnerships, displaying unapologetic pragmatism: “Haters will hate, but I’ll keep working,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

A Defense Budget Surge: +50% in One Year
For 2025, Belgium has allocated around €12 billion to Defense, representing 2% of GDP—up from €8 billion in 2024 (1.3% of GDP). This unprecedented increase follows the NATO summit (June 24–25, 2025), where member states agreed on an ambitious target: 5% of GDP dedicated to security by 2035 (with 3.5% for pure defense).

This trajectory entails €34 billion of investments over the next decade to modernize the armed forces (F-35 fighter jets, frigates, cybersecurity, and ground forces).

Budgetary Pressures and Political Debates
To achieve the 2% target as early as 2025, the government resorted to:

Massive borrowing,

“Creative accounting” measures (reclassifying infrastructure as defense expenditures),

Temporary credit lines amounting to €4.6 billion with limited parliamentary oversight.

The left has denounced this as a “budgetary headlong rush,” with the PTB warning of a possible €60 billion deficit by 2029.

Francken: A Minister Under Political Pressure
Clashing with Bart De Wever over national unity and the symbolic role of institutions, Francken is trying to restore his image. His visit to Turkey, his stance on military sovereignty, and his determination to boost the Defense budget reflect his ambition to position himself as a statesman capable of transcending the Flemish-French divide—at least on security matters.

What’s Next?
After stops in Istanbul and Ankara, Francken met with representatives of Turkey’s military-industrial complex. Talks of cooperation on Bayraktar drones and anti-aircraft systems are underway, which could mark a turning point in Belgium’s defense procurement strategy.

SOURCES

Anadolu Agency (AA)

Polémique du 21 juillet (Vive la Belgique refusé),”7sur7, RTL Info, RTBF”,21-22 juillet 2025

Objectif OTAN 2035 (5 % du PIB, 3,5 % Défense),”Communiqué OTAN, Time, Financial Times, IISS, SIPRI”,”Sommet de La Haye, 24-25 juin 2025″

Critiques de la gauche (déficit 60 Mds € en 2029),”RTBF fact-check, PS”,2025

Coopération Belgique – Turquie (drones Bayraktar),”AA, Defense Post, DroneXL, Aviation Week”,”IDEF 2025, juillet 2025″

34 Mds € d’investissements sur la décennie,Bruxelles Korner (article original),25 juillet 2025