Francken asks higher NATO standard not to be rejected in the longer term: « The next question is whether you will leave NATO »

To be clear: Francken is not a questioning party to spend more than what has now been agreed within the government. Within her Easter agreement, the arizonar government has been stuck to withdraw the expenses for defense from this year to 2 percent of GDP. « I personally think that if I can spend the 21 billion euros extra on the right things for the right price, I have done a good job, » said the minister when discussing his policy memorandum in the Chamber.

As is known, a new Defense Investment Pledge (DIP) will be coming soon. In his Draft Paper, Secretary-General Mark Rutte shifts an increase to 5 percent of GDP in seven years. Francken is in any case short of that period. It should have to go to ten years, just as was the case for the current standard.

Subdivision

The increase to 2 percent is « an immense effort, » Francken emphasizes. « I am very happy with that and never thought so. » But the minister does not necessarily say no to the 5 percent. In addition, he notes that there is a subdivision between 3.5 percent on strictly defined expenditure and 1.5 percent in broader safety expenditure. There is still negotiations about what exactly falls under that second category.

« Maybe we are already at 3.5 percent and we have to go to 5 percent. Or we are at 4 percent and we have to go to 5 percent. That depends on the definition of the second part, » said Francken. « If you take a further step in 2030 and 2034 you will be there. »

In any case, Francken does not just say that you as a country will not perform that new dip. « The next question then is whether you are leaving NATO. » He repeated that the presence of NATO yields a lot of return for our country, which is also founding father.