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BELGIAN CONTRIBUTION TO OPERATIONS IN 2007
Belgium is a strong believer in an effective multilateral approach to the promotion
of peace and stability and to security problems. The Belgian military contribution to this
approach reflects this ambition.
In general, the Belgian Security and Defence Policy is focussed on a five axis
approach, through UN, EU, NATO, bilateral and national military contributions. In 2007,
these contributions were put into practice through participation in multiple operations and
activities:

1

•

Contribution to the promotion of stability and peace in Europe with the participation,
o in KFOR with one Manoeuvre Company and two Liaison and Monitoring
Teams in Kosovo (with an average of + 200 military in zone) 1 and a limited
participation in EU operation ALTHEA in Bosnia-Herzegovina;

•

Contribution to the instauration of the authority of the democratic Afghan
government and the stabilisation effort of Afghanistan with the participation in NATO
operations in Afghanistan (ISAF):
o Protection of Kabul International Airport with a Force Protection Company (+
300 military)
o Assuring the functioning of Kabul International Airport as a lead nation from
October 2007 (+ 50 military);
o Participation in German led Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Kunduz and
Faïzabad (+ 20 military);

•

Contribution to restoring and maintaining stability in the Middle East with the
participation in UN operation UNIFIL in South Lebanon with an Engineer Company
(in construction and demining roles) as well as with a Role 2 Field Hospital,
including their own force protection elements (+ 360 military);

•

Contribution to the enhancement of the stability and peace on the African continent
through,
o a direct or indirect participation in UN peace support operations and in EU
Security Sector Reforms Effort Operations either directly by deploying
observers or staff officers, or indirectly through logistic support in zone to
other contingents participating in Ivory Coast (ONUCI) and Democratic
Republic of Congo (MONUC and EUSEC), with several teams (+ 20 military);
o a support of the stabilisation efforts through a Military Partnership
Programme with the Democratic Republic of Congo (+ 100 Military) and
several other African nations (+ 80 Mil);

•

Participation with staff officers in headquarters
aforementioned operations (+ 30 military);

All figures are average numbers of personnel in zone

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commanding

several

of

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•

Delivering support to NATO Allies by participation
o in several NATO naval demining operations in the Baltic Sea (+ 130 military);
o in NATO Air Policing Operations in the Baltic (+ 60 military).

•

National Naval Defence Diplomacy operations in Mediterranean, African and
Arabian waters (+ 150 military).

The total number of Belgian personnel participating in operations during 2007
amounts to 4,660, representing an average of almost 1,100 Belgian military in operations
at any given time and a participation of more than 20% of all deployable military personnel.
Of these 1,100, 52% (some 570 military) participated in NATO operations, 34% (some 380
military) in UN operations, 12% (some 130 military) in national and bilateral operations and
2% (some 20 military) in EU operations.
Additionally, Belgium maintained some 500 military (land-) personnel on stand by
for EUBG (1st semester 2007), some 200 Airmen for its contribution to both NRF 8 (1st
semester 2007) and 9 (2nd semester 2007) and 150 Sailors for NRF 9. At any time,
Belgium is also maintaining capabilities in stand-by for national purposes, inter alia : for
non combatant evacuation operations (minimum 550 military), demining teams, two F16
aircraft for the safety of the airspace, specialized capabilities for humanitarian relief (BFAST) and two helicopters for search and rescue and naval capabilities for maritime
security tasks.
Further information and updates on the Belgian military contribution to operations
can be found on www.mil.be.

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