An MQ-9B Reaper Drone (credit: General Electrics) Belgium announces three partnerships: planes and drones with the USA, land with the French (V2) 25 October 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Belgium, Military cooperation, Drones, Company, F-35, France, Lockheed Martin, Nexter, offset, Steven Vandeput, USA 9 min read
Viktor Orban in Parliament (credit: European Parliament) [Interview] Peace Facility, Pesco, Sophia… There are still points to clarify (Steven Vandeput) (V2) 14 September 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Belgium, EUNAVFOR Med, European Peace Facility, Interview, Libya, NATO-EU, third country, PESCO, Steven Vandeput 7 min read
(credit: DICOD - EMA / B2 Archives: Rafale pilots departing as part of Operation Chammal) [News] Belgium: replacement of F-16s. The Rafale back on the track? June 18, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Belgium, Charles Michel, Steven Vandeput 1 min read
[Decryption] Belgium. The business of renewing the F-16 becomes political. Air Force swirl March 22, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Air Force, Belgium, Charles Michel, Market Contracts, F-16, Lockheed Martin, Steven Vandeput 7 min read
Notebook (18.01.2018). Iraq (Cops). Venezuela (listing). Zimbabwe (pre-notifications). NATO (structures). Italy (Niger mission). Airbus (telephony). Studies (EDA). Male drones (Thales). Burst (Vandeput). Kosovo (Ivanovic). Iran (Desprez). Kenya (Elections). Bahrain (opposition). Brexit (Tusk). Czech Rep (government). Romania (Prime Minister). To read 18th January 2018 B2 Writing European Defense Agency, Airbus, Andrew Babis, Bahrain, Dual-use good, democracy, Human rights, espionage, France, Gerard Deprez, government, Iran, Jobs, Kenya, NATO, European Parliament, Peter Paul, Flurry, Czech Republic, Romania, EEAS, Steven Vandeput, IP telephony, Thales 8 min read
Notebook (24.11.2017). PESCO (legal obstacle, number). Rafale F-16 (institutional question, deadline). France-Poland (Macron-Sydlo). Belgium-Luxembourg (cooperation). Rafale/F-16 (constraints, schedule). EU-Kosovo (storm). Burma-Bangladesh (Rohinghas). Zimbabwe (resignation). EU-African Union (preparations). Mladic (conviction). Kenya (Supreme Court). Burkina Faso / Nigeria / Egypt (attacks). Mexico (assassination). Civil protection (proposal). Italy – Moldova (help). Morocco (visit). Brexit (European security). SatCen (budget) 24th November 2017 B2 Writing Financial assistance, Assassination, Bangladesh, Beata Szydlo, Belgium, Burma, Budget, Burkina faso, CBSD, migration crisis, Belgrade Pristina Dialogue, Egypt, Emmanuel Macron, ex-Yugoslavia, France, Italy, Kenya, Luxembourg, Morocco, Mexico, Defense Minister, Moldova, Nigeria, PESCO, Poland, Civil protection, Flurry, Refugee, Rohingyas, United Kingdom, SatCen, EU-Africa Summit, Steven Vandeput, African Union, Zimbabwe 9 min read
Notebook (15.09.2017). EUCAP Sahel Mali (Head). EUAM Iraq (Planning). EDA (visit). Libya (traffic report). Burma (COPS). North Korea (UN sanctions, EU autonomous). North Korea (EU autonomous sanctions). Belgium (HQ). Arms control (EP vote). Venezuela (EP resolution). Burma (visit postponed). Serbia (Hahn). Burma (humanitarian aid). Kosovo (religious heritage). Middle East (terrorism aid). Schengen Code (amendment). Migration (Mogherini). 15 September 2017 B2 Writing European Defense Agency, Financial aid, Humanitarian aid, Ambassadors, belgian army, terrorist attack, Bangladesh, Burma, trade, Arms trade, European Commission, Border control, arms control, COPS, North Korea, to the defense, MEPs, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Schengen area, EUAM Iraq, EUCAP Sahel Mali, EUNAVFOR Med, Federica Mogherini, freezing of assets, EU High Representative, Investments, Iraq, Kosovo, Libya, Fight against terrorism, Mali, migration, Moyen Orient, OpPlan, European Parliament, UN resolution, Rohingyas, sanctions, Autonomous sanctions, Steven Vandeput, Human trafficking, Venezuela 10 min read
[Decryption] Around twenty countries ready to join PESCO. The tightened schedule (V2) 8 September 2017 Nicolas Gros Verheyde constructive ambiguity, Andrea Katic, Permanent structured cooperation, EU Defense, Didier Reynders, Federica Mogherini, Florence Parly, Hans Peter Doskozil, EU High Representative, informal defense, Panos Kammenos, PESCO, Peter Hultqvist, Estonian EU Presidency, PESCO projects, Raimonds Bergmanis, Sebastian Kurz, Steven Vandeput 10 min read
On June 29, the Louise-Marie frigate came to the aid of 118 refugees near the Libyan coast. (Belgian Navy) The future of the Belgian participation in Sophia compromised? July 18, 2017 Nicolas Gros Verheyde migration crisis, Didier Reynders, EUNAVFOR Med, FAC, Italy, Libya, Maghreb, Mediterranean sea, ports of disembarkation, Rescue at sea, Steven Vandeput, Theo Franken 2 min read
(credit: JIIA Forum / Symposium) Notebook (18.07.2017). CPCC (appointment). EUBAM Libya (head of mission). IRISL (appeal). Anti-terrorist list (updated). Defense materials (new list). Germany (defense budget). Belgium-Congo (blocking). Belgium (Gripen). Cyprus (negotiations). Libya (elections). Gaza (Quartet). Jerusalem (attack). Türkiye (coup). Iran (nuclear agreement). Criminal justice (day). Terrorism (debriefing). Bangladesh (return of migrants). Brexit (police, judicial, nuclear cooperation). July 18, 2017 B2 Writing Germany, Bangladesh, Brexit, defense budget, Head of Mission, Cyprus, Military cooperation, CPCC, EUBAM Libya, Gaza, Iran, IRISL, Jerusalem, Criminal justice, Kai Holst Andersen, DR Congo, Saab, sanctions, Nuclear security, Steven Vandeput, Terrorisme, Turkey 8 min read
The two Belgian and Dutch Ministers of Defense S. Vandeput and J. Hennis signing the letter of intent on the navy (credit: MOD Belgium / Malek Azoug) Belgians and Dutch strengthen their cooperation in the maritime sector 1 December 2016 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Belgium, Benelux, Mine hunters, Frigate, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Letter of Intent, Marine, Netherlands, Steven Vandeput 3 min read
F-16 taking off (credit: MOD Belgium) The Belgian commitment in Syria decided as late as possible 1 May 2016 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Article 51 Charter of the United Nations, Belgium, CAOC, Daesh, F-16, Iraq, Self-defense, military operation, , Steven Vandeput, Syria, Terrorisme 3 min read
Notebook (27.04.2016) Sanctions (Russia, Al-Qaida). COPS (calendar). Arctic (strategy). Forced displacements (communication). Liam (staff). Minusca (mandate). Gulf of Guinea (piracy). Obama (EU Defense). Cyberdefense (Belgium, Spain). Burundi (violence). Crimea (Meijlis). Bangladesh (murder). Italy-Libya (Migrants). Terrorism (ISIL sleeper cells) 27 April 2016 B2 Writing Italy-Libya Agreement, European Defense Agency, Arctic, Ground forces, Bangladesh, Barack Obama, Belgium, Burundi, COPS, Coreper, Migrant crisis, Cybersecurity, Daesh, EU Defense, Displaced, EDA, United States, EUAM Ukraine, Federica Mogherini, European Structural Investment Fund, Gulf of Guinea, EU High Representative, Helga Schmid, Italy, James Clapper, LIAM, Libya, Anti-terrorist list, minusca, maritime piracy, Steven Vandeput, EU-Ukraine 9 min read
(credit: MOD ©Malek Azoug) [Interview] CBSD blocked. "It's Kafkaesque" (Steven Vandeput) 22 April 2016 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Afghanistan, CBSD, EU Council of Ministers, Interview, PSDC, Sahel, Steven Vandeput, CFSP strategy, Train & Team 2 min read
(credit: Clemaco) A subcontractor of the Belgian army domiciled in fact in Panama. A dangerous montage (update) 12 April 2016 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Clemaco, Tax evasion, Luxembourg, Ostend, Panama, Panama Papers, Pieter de Crem, regulations, Steven Vandeput 3 min read
F-16 and Rafale flying together in December 2015 (credit: MOD Belgium) For the renewal of the F-16, a government-to-government agreement (Vandeput) March 3, 2016 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Agate, Armaments, Fighter jet, defense budget, F-16, F-35, Steven Vandeput 2 min read
Notebook (02.02.2016) Iranian banks (sanctions). Libya (Pinotti). Sangaris (Le Drian). Belgian Opex 2016 (Cost). Malbork (Vandeput). Daesh (Gentiloni). Immigration (Aldus). Burundi (African Union). Nigeria (Attack). Syria (negotiations). At Court (diary) February 2st, 2016 B2 Writing ALDE, Baltic Air Policing, banks, ECJ, Daesh, Egypt, EUTM RCA, freezing of assets, immigration, Iran, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Nigeria, Operation Sangaris, Roberta Pinotti, sanctions, Steven Vandeput, Syria, Court of the EU 6 min read
The F-16 fleet will be renewed, the government has decided (credit: Belgian Ministry of Defence) The future of Belgian defence. Workforce down, equipment renewed. Objective: a European autonomous capability 6th January 2016 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Strategic autonomy, defense budget, Drone, F-16, Frigate, Marine, Steven Vandeput 5 min read
