Belgium-Netherlands Agree On Missile Defense System Agreement, Including Mysterious Drone Intercept

JAKARTA - Belgium's Defense Minister, Theo Francken, said the governments of Belgium and the Netherlands would sign a missile defense system agreement.

"We will sign an agreement with the Netherlands to have (a) missile defense system. The system is the NASAMS system, the Norwegian System. We will buy NASAMS to protect our airspace," Francken told reporters on Wednesday, October 15 ahead of a meeting with NATO defense ministers.

He said Belgium, which recently opened an investigation into several drones flying over a military base, would have more unmanned anti-aircraft systems and detections as soon as possible.

Previously, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mark Rutte said the alliance was increasing arms production and air defense systems under a new US$2.2 billion military support program led by the United States to Ukraine, as well as strengthening measures to protect NATO airspace amid the increasing threat of drones.

Rutte said allies "enhanced production of the defense industry to ensure Ukraine is as strong as possible and remains in fighting."

According to him, the ministers will also discuss recent drone incidents and measures to strengthen NATO air defenses.

"This will be an important day," he said, quoted from Anadolu, October 15.

He explained this meeting would include a NATO-Ukraine Council session with Ukraine's Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and Ukraine's Defense Contact Group, chaired by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius with John Healey of Britain.

Secretary General Rutte highlighted a new US-led program launched in August, in which allies have committed to providing Kyiv with deadly and non-lethal military aid worth US$2.2 billion.

"This includes an air defense system and interceptors, which are crucial to protect the civilian population and Ukraine's infrastructure from Russia's persistent intense attacks," he said.