View source for Belgian Armed Forces

{{Short description|Combined military forces of Belgium}}
{{About|the whole of the Belgian military forces|the ground force branch|Belgian Army}}
{{Infobox national military
| name = Belgian Armed Forces
| native_name = {{nativename|nl|Belgische Defensie}}<br />{{nativename|fr|La Défense belge}}<br />{{nativename|de|Belgische Streitkräfte}}
| image = [[File:Coats of arms of Belgium Military Forces.svg|200px]]
| alt = 
| caption = Emblem of the Belgian Armed Forces
| image2 = 
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| motto = ''[[Unity Makes Strength|Unity makes Strength]]''<br />{{langx|nl|eendracht maakt macht}}<br />{{langx|fr|L'union fait la Force}}<br />{{langx|de|Einigkeit macht stark}}
| founded = {{start date and age|df=y|1830}}
| current_form = 
| disbanded = 
| branches = {{ubl|{{army|Belgium|name=Belgian Army}}|{{Air force|Belgium|name=Belgian Air Force}}|{{Navy|Belgium|name=Belgian Navy}}|{{flagicon image|Logo Composante Medicale (Armee Belge).svg|size=25px}} [[Belgian Medical Service]]| [[Belgian Cyber Force]]}}
| headquarters = [[Evere]]
| flying_hours = 
| website = <!--{{URL|example.mil}}-->
<!-- Leadership -->| commander-in-chief = [[Philippe of Belgium|Philippe]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[Monarchy of Belgium|King]]
| chief minister = [[Bart De Wever]]
| chief minister_title = [[Prime Minister of Belgium|Prime Minister]]
| minister = [[Theo Francken]]
| minister_title = [[Minister of Defence (Belgium)|Minister of Defence]]
| commander = [[General officer|General]] [[Frederik Vansina]]
| commander_title = [[Chief of Defence (Belgium)|Chief of Defence]]
<!-- Manpower -->| age = 
| conscription = Suspended since 1992
| manpower_data = 
| manpower_age = 
| available = 
| available_f = 
| fit = 
| fit_f = 
| reaching = 
| reaching_f = 
| ranked = 
| reserve = ~6,600 {{small|(2023)}}<ref name="HLN">{{cite web|title=Ons land telt ruim 6.400 reservisten, maar is dat voldoende als er oorlog zou uitbreken? N-VA: "Het moet nog beter"|url=https://www.hln.be/binnenland/ons-land-telt-ruim-6-400-reservisten-maar-is-dat-voldoende-als-er-oorlog-zou-uitbreken-n-va-het-moet-nog-beter~a74369b5/|website=www.hln.com}}</ref>
| deployed = less than 1,000 {{small|(2023)}}
<!-- Financial -->| amount = 12.8 billion € (2025)<ref name=BudgetGDP25>{{Cite web|url=https://www.behoerden-spiegel.de/2025/07/29/belgien-novelliert-die-verteidigungsstrategie/ |title= Belgien novelliert die Verteidigungsstrategie |accessdate=2025-08-06|language=de}}</ref>
| percent_GDP = 2 % (2025)<ref name=BudgetGDP25/>
<!-- Industrial -->| domestic_suppliers = [[FN Herstal]]
| foreign_suppliers = {{plainlist|
*{{FR}}
*{{EU}}
*{{Flag|NATO}}
*{{SWI}}
*{{USA}} 
}}
| imports = 
| exports = <!-- Related articles -->
| history = 
| ranks = [[Belgian military ranks]]
| active = 26,389 military personnel {{small|(2025)}}
}}

The '''Belgian Armed Forces''' ({{langx|nl|Defensie}}; {{langx|fr|La Défense}}, {{langx|de|Die Streitkräfte}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.be/fr/la-defense-mod-chod|title=La Défense|access-date=2016-03-25|language=fr|archive-date=1 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401171214/http://www.mil.be/fr/la-defense-mod-chod|url-status=dead}}</ref> are the combined national military forces of [[Belgium]]. The [[Monarchy of Belgium|King of the Belgians]] is the [[commander-in-chief]] of the Armed Forces. The Belgian Armed Forces was established after Belgium [[Belgian Revolution|became independent]] in October 1830. Since then, the Belgian armed forces have fought in [[World War I]], [[World War II]], the [[Cold War]] ([[Korean War]] and the Belgian [[Belgian Forces in Germany|occupation of the Federal Republic of Germany]]), [[Kosovo War|Kosovo]], [[Rwandan Civil War|Rwanda]], [[Somalia War (2006–2009)|Somalia]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan]]. The Armed Forces comprise five branches: the [[Belgian Army]], the [[Belgian Air Force]], the [[Belgian Navy]], the [[Belgian Medical Service]] and the [[Belgian Cyber Force]].

== History ==
=== Establishment ===
When Belgium broke away from the Netherlands in 1830 it was initially expected that a neutral buffer state, with its borders guaranteed by France, Britain and Prussia, could avoid the need for an expensive permanent military force, relying instead on the part-time militia of the existing ''[[Garde Civique]]'' (Civil Guard). The need for a regular army was however soon acknowledged. The basis for recruitment was one of selective conscription under which exemptions could be purchased by obtaining substitutes.<ref>John Keegan, page 55 "World Armies", {{ISBN|0 333 17236 1}}</ref> In practice this meant that only about a quarter of each year's eligible intake actually served, with the burden falling on the poorer classes.

===Early history===
[[File:Légion belge.jpg|thumb|right|Soldiers of the ''[[Belgian Legion|Corps Expeditionnaire Belge]]'' during the [[Second French intervention in Mexico|Franco-Mexican War]]]]
As part of the national policy of even-handed neutrality, the 19th century Belgian Army was deployed as an essentially defensive force in fortifications facing the Dutch, German and French borders. Mobilisation plans simply required reservists to report to their depots, without arrangements being made in advance for deployment in a particular direction or against a particular enemy. Recruitment difficulties caused the army to remain below its intended strength of 20,000 men, although new legislation in 1868 tightened the basis for conscription. The [[Belgium and the Franco-Prussian War|Franco-Prussian War of 1870]] required full mobilisation for nearly a year, a process which showed up serious training and structural weaknesses. The presence of Belgian forces in strength along the country's borders, supported by intelligence provided by the Belgian civil security service,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lasoen|first1=Kenneth|editor1-last=Cools|editor1-first=Marc e.a.|title=1915-2015: Het verhaal van de Belgische militaire inlichtingen- en veiligheidsdienst|date=2015|publisher=Maklu|location=Antwerp|pages=100–102|chapter=Les secrets du département de la guerre. Militaire inlichtingen 1830-1914}}</ref> did however ensure that the combat at no time spilled over into Belgian territory.<ref>Barbara W. Tuchman, page 126 "The Guns of August", Constable and Co Ltd 1962</ref>

As late as the 1890s the Belgian Army still retained a system of selective service, at a time when most European states were moving to a principle of universal obligation, according to the Prussian model. In Belgium conscripts were selected through the drawing of ballots, but individuals could escape service by paying for substitutes.<ref>Fedor von Koppen, page 71 "The Armies of Europe", {{ISBN|978-1-78331-175-0}}</ref> This system favored the well-off and had been discarded elsewhere as inefficient and unpatriotic. For those conscripted the terms of service required eight years in the regular army (of which part might be spent on "unlimited leave"), followed by five years as a reservist. Various categories of volunteer enjoyed such privileges as being able to specify their branch of service, bounties and higher pay.<ref>British War Office, pages 2-3 "Handbook of the Belgian Army", {{ISBN|978-1-78331-094-4}}</ref>

The [[Papal Army]] based in Rome included from 1860 a battalion-sized unit known as the ''Tirailleurs Franco-Belges'' (Franco-Belgian Sharpshooters). Recruited amongst volunteers from both countries, this became the [[Pontifical Zouaves]] in 1861 and fought as an allied force on the French side in 1871 during the Franco-Prussian War.<ref>Guy Derie, page 130 "Les Soldats de Leopold Ier et Leopold II", D 1986/0197/03 Bruxelles</ref>

In 1864 a ''[[Belgian Legion|Corps Expeditionnaire Belge]]'' (Belgian Expeditionary Corps) was raised for service in Mexico. Originally intended to serve as the Guard of the Belgian-born Empress Charlotte this 1,500 strong force was largely drawn from volunteers seconded from the Belgian Army. Known popularly as the [[Belgian Legion]], it saw active service in Mexico as part of the Imperial forces, before returning to Belgium for disbandment in March 1867.<ref>Guy Derie, page 124 "Les Soldats de Leopold Ier et Leopold II", D 1986/0197/03 Bruxelles</ref>

From 1885 the [[Force Publique]] was established as the military garrison and police force in the [[Belgian Congo]], then under the direct rule of [[King Leopold II]]. Initially led by a variety of European mercenaries, this colonial force was subsequently officered by Belgian regulars after 1908.<ref>{{cite book|first=Peter|last=Abbott|pages=10–11|title=Armies in East Africa 1914-18|date=18 October 2002|isbn=1-84176-489-2}}</ref>

From December 1904 a small detachment of Belgian troops was permanently based in China as the "Guard of the Belgian Legation in Beijing".<ref>Guy Derie, page 134 "Les Soldats de Leopold Ier et Leopold II", D 1986/0197/03 Bruxelles</ref>

Reforms undertaken in the early years of the 20th century included the abolition in 1909 of the system of drawing lots for the selection of the annual intake of conscripts. In 1913, compulsory and universal [[military service]] for men was established in Belgium. While this enabled actual peacetime strength to be increased to 33,000 men (increased to 120,500 on mobilisation), this was only sufficient to provide a basis for the creation of seven under-strength divisions (one of cavalry) plus artillery and fortress troops. The Belgian military was also affected by political and popular reliance on the supposedly certain protection of the country's internationally guaranteed neutrality. In the words of the historian Barbara W. Tuchman "the army was considered superfluous and slightly absurd".<ref>Barbara W. Tuchman, page 127 "The Guns of August", Constable and Co Ltd 1962</ref> Training and discipline were slack, equipment inadequate and even field uniforms for active service were old fashioned and impractical.<ref>{{cite book|first=Pierre|last=Lierneux|page=20|title=The Belgian Army in the Great War. Uniforms and Equipment|year=2015|isbn=978-3-902526-75-5}}</ref>

Although improvements in the Belgian Army had been uneven during the 19th and early 20th centuries, one area of successful reform had been that of increasing the professionalism of the officer corps. The Royal Military Academy had been established in 1834, to be followed by the ''Ecole d'Application'' for technical training, and the ''Ecole de Guerre'' for staff training in 1868. The Belgian Army pioneered the practice of training a corps of finance, personnel and general administration specialist officers instead of leaving such functions to civil servants without military experience or inadequately prepared line officers. There was however a serious shortage of trained officers in the rapidly expanding army of 1913.<ref>R. Pawly & P. Lierneux, page 4 ''The Belgian Army in World War I'', {{ISBN|978 1 84603 448 0}}</ref>

===Army in 1914===
[[File:Belgian dogs trained to draw quick-firing guns.JPG|thumb|right|A Belgian machine gun team, 1914]]
{{see also|Belgian Army order of battle (1914)}}
On the eve of World War I, the Belgian Army comprised 19 infantry regiments ([[line infantry|line]], [[Chasseur#Chasseurs à pied|Chasseurs à pied]], [[Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers|Grenadier]] and [[Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers|Carabinier]]), 10 cavalry ([[Guides Regiment|Guides]], [[Lancers]] and [[Chasseur#Chasseurs à cheval|Chasseurs à cheval]]) and 8 artillery (mounted, field and fortress). Support forces included engineers, [[Gendarmerie (Belgium)|gendarmerie]], fortress troops, [[Train (military)|train]] and [[Garde Civique|civil guards]]. The seven divisions of the Field Army were intended to provide a mobile force while the 65,000 fortress troops provided garrisons for the substantial forts constructed around [[Antwerp]], [[Liège]] and [[Namur]]. These fortifications had been built in several stages beginning in 1859, though a number were still incompleted in 1914. While well-designed and built by 19th century standards, these fixed defences with their sunken artillery turrets had been rendered obsolete by recent advances in heavy siege artillery howitzers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Courcelle|first=R. Pawly & P. Lierneux; illustrated by P.|title=The Belgian Army in World War I|year=2009|publisher=Osprey|location=Oxford|isbn=9781846038938|pages=4–6}}</ref>

===World War I===
[[File:M 38 11 forces belges à Liège.jpg|thumbnail|Belgian carabiniers defending Liège in August 1914]]
{{main|Belgium in World War I}}
At the start of World War I in August 1914, the Belgian armed forces were being restructured, due to this measure and the rapid occupation of Belgium only 20% of men were mobilised and incorporated into the armed forces. Ultimately, 350,000 men were incorporated into the Belgian armed forces, although one third of these did not participate directly in combat.

Invaded by surprise by the [[Imperial German Army]], which was approximately 600,000 men strong, the small, ill-equipped, 117,000-strong Belgian army succeeded, for ten days, in holding the German army in front of [[Liège]] in 1914. They fought between the emplaced forts in the area and with their support.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.grande-guerre.org/article.php?num=2|title = the invasion of Belgium | author = Carl Pepin | work = First World War (1902–1932) | access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref> This strategy was based on the Napoleonic concept of fighting the advance force and preventing a portion of the enemy forces joining the main body. At the time, the authorities and the public celebrated a determined Belgian resistance that the Germans did not expect.

For four years, under the command of King [[Albert I of Belgium|Albert I]], the Belgian army guarded the important sector of the Allied left wing between [[Nieuwpoort, Belgium|Nieuwpoort]], on the coast, and [[Ypres]] with the help of the forces of the [[Allies of World War I|Entente]] but did not participate in any of the major Allied offensives, which were deemed unnecessarily expensive in terms of cost and manpower by the King of the Belgians.

In 1916, [[Belgian Expeditionary Corps in Russia|a body of Belgian armoured cars]] were moved from the IJzer front to help the [[Russian Empire]]. The force found itself alongside an identical body sent by the British on the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]].<ref>{{in lang|en}} {{cite web|url = http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Russia/Russia_00.htm|title = Belgian Armored Cars in Russia| access-date= 17 February 2011}}</ref>

In Africa a company-sized unit of Belgian colonial troops participated in the occupation of the German colony of [[Togoland]], The [[Force Publique]] subsequently played a major role in the [[East African Campaign (World War I)|East African Campaign]] against German forces in [[German East Africa]], providing over 12,000 [[askari]]s under Belgian officers for the Allied offensive of February 1916.<ref>Peter Abbott, pages 19-21 "Armies in East Africa 1914-18", {{ISBN|1 84176 489 2}}</ref> The most significant Belgian action was the capture of [[Tabora]] in September 1916, by a force under the command of General [[Charles Tombeur]].

In Belgium, after four years of war, as of 26 May 1918, the army had 166,000 men of which 141,974 were combatants, forming twelve infantry divisions and one cavalry division. It had 129 aircraft and 952 guns of all calibres. From September, the Belgian army was involved in the Allied offensive until the final victory of 11 November 1918.

===Between the Wars===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1971-011-29, Belgien, Fort Eben Emael, Albert Kanal.jpg|thumb|right|[[Fort Eben-Emael]] was part of the [[Fortified Position of Liège]] and was completed in 1935.]]
After the [[Armistice with Germany]] of 1918, the Belgian government sought to retain the strategy of 1914. Little effort was made to acquire tanks and aircraft for the Belgian armed forces, while instead the Government strengthened the fortifications of Liège and Antwerp. This was despite the fact that during World War I the forts had proved ineffective despite strong support from artillery and infantry. Until 1936, Belgium remained allied to France and the United Kingdom.

The Belgian Army underwent a series of reductions from 12 divisions in 1923 to only four after 1926. The rank and file consisted almost entirely of conscripts serving full-time for only 13 months, before entering the reserves.<ref>John Keegan, page 56 "World Armies", {{ISBN|0 333 17236 1}}</ref>

===World War II===
{{main|Belgium in World War II}}
On 1 September 1939, when the [[Wehrmacht]] invaded [[Poland]], King [[Leopold III of Belgium]] ordered a general mobilisation, in which 600,000 Belgians were mobilised. Despite warnings from the French and British governments, the King refused an alliance. Belgium was invaded, defeated, and occupied in an [[Battle of Belgium|18 Days' Campaign]] after 10 May 1940. Later, 163 Belgian troops were rescued during the [[Dunkirk evacuation]], and Belgium's new navy, the ''Corps de Marine'', only reformed in 1939, also participated.

After the defeat in 1940, significant numbers of Belgian soldiers and civilians escaped to Britain to join the [[Free Belgian Forces|Belgian forces in exile]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Units of the Belgian armed forces in the United Kingdom 1940–1945|url=http://www.be4046.eu/BE_UKIntro.htm|publisher=be4046.eu|access-date=27 February 2013}}</ref> The Belgian government, under [[Hubert Pierlot]], evacuated to London where it remained until the liberation in 1944.

Belgian soldiers formed the [[1st Belgian Infantry Brigade]] (which also included an artillery battery of soldiers from [[Luxembourg]]) more often known as the ''Brigade Piron'' after its commanding officer, [[Jean-Baptiste Piron]]. The Brigade Piron was involved in the [[D-Day|Normandy Invasion]] and the battles in France and the Netherlands until liberation.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Piron Brigade|url=http://www.brigade-piron.be/Accueil_en.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206085535/http://www.brigade-piron.be/Accueil_en.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 February 2007|publisher=www.brigade-piron.be|access-date=15 December 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Belgian Commandos in Training in Britain, 1945 D23711.jpg|thumb|right|Belgian commandos training in Britain, 1945]]
Belgians also served in British special forces units during the war, forming a troop of [[No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando#No. 4 Belgian Troop|No.10 Commando]] which was involved in the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] and [[Operation Infatuate|Landings on Walcheren]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Belgian Commando Troops, 1942–1945|url=http://www.be4046.eu/Commando.htm|publisher=be4046.eu|access-date=4 March 2013}}</ref> The British [[5th Special Air Service]] (SAS) was entirely made up of Belgians.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Belgian SAS in WWII – A Very Short History|url=http://www.belgiansas.us/history.html|publisher=belgiansas.us|access-date=4 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816181119/http://www.belgiansas.us/history.html|archive-date=16 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Two Belgian fighter units, the [[349th Squadron (Belgium)|349th]] and [[350th Squadron (Belgium)|350th Squadrons]], were formed in the [[Royal Air Force]], with over 400 pilots. The 350th Squadron alone claimed over 50 "kills" between its formation in November 1941 and the end of the war.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ready|first=J. Lee|title=Forgotten Allies: The Military Contribution of the Colonies, Exiled Governments, and Lesser Powers to the Allied Victory in World War II|year=1985|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, N.C. u.a.|isbn=978-0-89950-129-1|page=254}}</ref>

Two [[corvettes]] and a group of [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]] were also operated by the Belgians during the [[Battle of the Atlantic]], numbering some 350 men by 1943.<ref>{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=text by Nigel|title=Foreign volunteers of the allied forces : 1939–45|year=1991|publisher=Osprey|location=London|isbn=978-1-85532-136-6|page=17}}</ref> Most military Belgian vessels of the Belgian navy were interned in [[Spain]], except for the patrol craft ''P16'', which managed to escape to the United Kingdom, where it became [[HMS Kernot|HMS ''Kernot'']].<ref>{{cite web|title=HMS Kernot ex P16|url=http://www.marinebelge.be/pages2/kernot.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823230029/http://www.marinebelge.be/pages2/kernot.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 August 2011|publisher=Marine Belge|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref>

The [[Force Publique]] also participated in the [[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]] and were instrumental to forcing the Italian surrender in [[Ethiopian Empire|Abyssinia]].

{| border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 style="margin:0 0 .5em 1em; background:#fff; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #996; line-height:1.5; font-size:95%;"
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center; border:1px solid #996; background-color:#996; color:#fff"
| colspan="3" | '''Belgium in World War II'''
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center; border:1px solid #996; background-color:#ddb;"
| colspan="3" | Strength of primary military organizations
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center; border:1px solid #996;"
| width="33%"  style="border:1px solid #996" | Military Organization
| width="33%"  style="border:1px solid #996" | Period
| width="33%"  style="border:1px solid #996" | Total personnel over time
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center;"
| style="border:1px solid #996" | 1940 Army
| style="border:1px solid #996" | May - June 1940
| style="border:1px solid #996" |600,000 - 650,000
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center;"
| style="border:1px solid #996" | [[Free Belgian Forces]]
| style="border:1px solid #996" | 1940–1944
| style="border:1px solid #996" | ca. 8,000
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center;"
| style="border:1px solid #996" | Belgian Army 1944–1945
| style="border:1px solid #996" | June 1944 – May 1945
| style="border:1px solid #996" | ca. 100,000
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center;"
| style="border:1px solid #996" | SS volunteers
| style="border:1px solid #996" | April 1941 – May 1945
| style="border:1px solid #996" | ca. 15,000
|- style="vertical-align:top; text-align:center;"
| colspan="3" | SS figures from Kenneth Estes ''A European Anabasis''.
|}

===Post-1945===
The harsh lessons of [[World War II]] made [[collective security]] a priority for Belgian foreign policy. In March 1948 Belgium signed the [[Treaty of Brussels]], and then joined [[NATO]] in 1948. However the integration of the armed forces into NATO did not begin until after the [[Korean War]], to which Belgium (in co-operation with [[Luxembourg]]) sent a detachment known as the [[Belgian Volunteer Corps for Korea]]. Later Belgium contributed [[Belgian Forces in Germany|a corps]] to NATO's [[Northern Army Group]]. Defence expenditure grew along with the force size. In 1948 the army was 75,000 strong which grew to 150,000 by 1952.<ref>Isby and Kamps 1985, p.59</ref> A major defence review in 1952 set a target of three active and two reserve divisions, a 400-aircraft air force and a fifteen-ship navy. Forty anti-aircraft defence battalions were created, linked with radar and a centralised command-and-control system.

As a safeguard against Belgium being invaded again, two major bases, [[Kitona]] and [[Kamina]], were established in the [[Belgian Congo]]. They were almost viewed as a 'national redoubt,' permitting the survival and rebuilding of forces if Belgium were again invaded.<ref>David Isby and Charles Kamps Jr, 'Armies of NATO's Central Front,' Jane's Publishing Company, 1985, p.59. See also J. Temmerman, 'Le Congo: Reduit National Belge,' in ''Recueil d'etudes <<Congo 1955-1960>>,'' Academie royale des Sciences d'Outre-Mer (Bruxelles) pp.413–422 (1992)</ref>

Following a change in government in 1954 conscript service was reduced to 18 months. The Belgian Army gained nuclear capability in the 1950s with [[MGR-1 Honest John|Honest John missiles]] initially and then with nuclear-capable tube artillery. It also adopted the U.S. [[Pentomic]] organization, but then switched to a triangular division structure by the early 1960s. Just after independence in the Congo, a Metropolitan Command (Cometro) was active to control the Belgian forces there.<ref>For Cometro and the metropolitain forces in the Congo at independence, see Louis-François Vanderstraeten, De la Force publique à l'Armee nationale congolaise : histoire d'une mutinerie : juillet 1960, Bruxelles : Académie Royale de Belgique; Paris-Gembloux : Duculot, ©1985. {{ISBN|2-8031-0050-9}}, 88–96.</ref>

From October 1993 to March 1996, Belgium participated in UNAMIR, a UN Peacekeeping mission meant to end the [[Rwandan genocide]]. While protecting the Rwandan prime minister, 10 soldiers from the 2nd Commando Battalion were tortured and executed by the Rwandan Presidential Guard. Rwandan Major Bernard Ntuyahaga was later convicted for the murders in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNAMIR|url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/past/unamirS.htm|access-date=2020-12-26|website=peacekeeping.un.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=09|url=http://www.cdomuseum.be/ANGLAIS/09_uk.htm|access-date=2020-12-26|website=www.cdomuseum.be}}</ref>

===21st Century===
* 2001 - now: QRA ([[Benelux]] airspace)<ref>{{Cite web|title=de Benelux: QRA|url=https://www.mil.be/nl/onze-missies/de-benelux-qra/|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Defensie|language=nl}}</ref>
*2003, March - 2004, 2 December: [[Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina|SFOR]] (part of [[NATO]] Peacekeepers) ([[Bosnia and Herzegovina]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=SFOR Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina|url=https://www.nato.int/sfor/docu/d981116a.htm|access-date=2020-12-26|website=www.nato.int}}</ref>
*2004, 30 March - now: [[Baltic Air Policing]] (part of NATO QRA) ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=NATO Baltic Air Policing: Belgium to take over lead and Germany to augment|url=https://ac.nato.int/archive/2018/nato-baltic-air-policing-belgium-to-take-over-lead-and-germany-to-augment.aspx|access-date=2020-12-26|website=ac.nato.int}}</ref>
* 2004, 7 August - 2014: [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]] (part of NATO) ([[Afghanistan]]: [[Kabul International Airport|Hamid Karzai International Airport]], [[Mazar-i-Sharif|Mazar-I-Sharif]], [[Kunduz]], [[Kandahar]] [[Kandahar International Airport|Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pieter De Crem : Belgian F-16's reach a milestone in the number of flight hours for ISAF|url=https://www.pieterdecrem.be/index.php?id=253&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=188&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3366&cHash=c3fe581addb288a1576968a6de5d3479&L=0|access-date=2020-12-26|website=www.pieterdecrem.be|archive-date=18 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118183309/https://www.pieterdecrem.be/index.php?id=253&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=188&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3366&cHash=c3fe581addb288a1576968a6de5d3479&L=0|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=General info|url=https://finabel.org/belgium/|access-date=2020-12-26|website=finabel.org}}</ref>
*2006, 30 August - 2014, December: [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|UNIFIL]] (as UN Peacekeepers and deminers) (South Lebanon: Israel-Lebanon border)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-01-05|title=Belgian troops bid farewell to south Lebanon|url=https://unifil.unmissions.org/belgian-troops-bid-farewell-south-lebanon|access-date=2020-12-26|website=UNIFIL|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-09-29|title=Two Belgian generals to serve on Lebanon mission, Belgian News, Belgium, Expatica|url=http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=32677|access-date=2020-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929115116/http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=32677|archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-23|title=Libanon {{!}} Belgian Defence|url=http://www.mil.be/nl/libanon|access-date=2020-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023053719/http://www.mil.be/nl/libanon|archive-date=23 October 2017}}</ref>
* 2008, February - 2009, 15 March: [[European Union Military Operation in Chad and the Central African Republic|EUFOR Chad/CAR]] ([[Chad]], [[Central African Republic]])
*2010, 30 June - now: [[MONUSCO]] (continuation of MONUC) (as UN Peacekeepers) ([[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]: [[Kinshasa]], [[France]]: [[Brest, France|Brest]])<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-05-28|title=Steven Vanackere on the Democratic Republic of Congo and the new MONUSCO mandate|url=https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/Newsroom/news/press_releases/foreign_affairs/2010/mei/ni_280510_congo_monusco|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs|language=en}}</ref>
*2011, 21 March - 2011, 31 March: [[Operation Odyssey Dawn]] (part of NATO) ([[Libya]], [[Greece]]: Araxos Air Base)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-23|title=Belgium sends four F-16s to Libya - News - Portal Belgian Government|url=http://www.belgium.be/en/news/2011/news_f-16-libya.jsp|access-date=2020-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923183725/http://www.belgium.be/en/news/2011/news_f-16-libya.jsp|archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref>
* 2013 - 2023: [[United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali|MINUSMA]] (as [[United Nations peacekeeping|UN Peacekeepers]]) ([[Mali]]: [[Bamako]], [[Gao]], [[Germany]]: [[Potsdam]])
* 2013 - now: [[European Union Training Mission in Mali|EUTM]] (Mali)
* 2014 - now: Operation Desert Falcon (part of [[Operation Inherent Resolve]]) ([[Iraq]]: [[Baghdad|Bagdhad]], [[Erbil]], [[Syria]], [[Kuwait]], [[United States]]: [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Germany]]: [[Ramstein Air Base|Ramstein]] EPEI, [[United Arab Emirates]]: [[Al Dhafra Air Base|Al Dhafra]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Midden-Oosten|url=https://www.mil.be/nl/onze-missies/midden-oosten/|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Defensie|language=nl}}</ref>
*2014, 10 August - now: [[Operation Atalanta]] (part of EU NAVFOR) ([[Gulf of Aden]], [[Somalia|Somalian Coast]], [[Arabian Sea]], [[Indian Ocean]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta|url=https://eunavfor.eu/|access-date=2020-12-26|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Belgium Navy Frigate Leopold I Conducts First Friendly Approach After Joining Operation Atalanta {{!}} Eunavfor|url=https://eunavfor.eu/belgium-frigate-bns-leopold-i-joins-operation-atalanta/|access-date=2020-12-26|language=en|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121141833/https://eunavfor.eu/belgium-frigate-bns-leopold-i-joins-operation-atalanta/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2015, 7 January - now: [[Operation Vigilant Guardian]] (Belgium)<ref>{{Cite web|title=België: operatie Vigilant Guardian|url=https://www.mil.be/nl/onze-missies/belgie-operatie-vigilant-guardian/|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Defensie|language=nl}}</ref>
**As a result of the increased threat of terrorism after the shooting at the Charlie Hebdo newspaper's offices in Paris, France. The Belgian Armed Forces initiated Operation Vigilant Guardian, meant to assist the police with securing high-profile targets in major Belgian cities. After the attacks on 22 March 2016, this military protection was expanded to include soft targets in the public space, allocating 2000 army personnel for deployment. Currently, 550 service members remain deployed for public safety.
* 2015 - 2021: [[Resolute Support Mission]] (continuation of ISAF) (part of NATO) (Afghanistan)
*2016 - now: Cooperation with Tunisia for training, force protection and demining. ([[Tunisia]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defensie: Voortzetting van de vormingsopdracht in Tunesië in 2017 {{!}} News.belgium|url=https://news.belgium.be/nl/defensie-voortzetting-van-de-vormingsopdracht-tunesie-2017|access-date=2020-12-28|website=news.belgium.be|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=De samenwerking met Tunesië|url=https://www.peterbuysrogge.be/nieuws/de-samenwerking-met-tunesie|access-date=2020-12-28|website=Peter Buysrogge|language=nl}}</ref>
* 2017 - now: Operation New Nero ([[Niger]], [[Sahel|Sahel region]], [[Benin|Northern Benin]]: [[Cotonou|port of Cotonou]], [[:fr:Centre de perfectionnement aux actions post-conflictuelles de déminage et de dépollution|CPADD]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Niger|url=https://www.mil.be/nl/onze-missies/niger/|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Defensie|language=nl}}</ref>
*2020, February - now: [[European-Led Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz]] (EMASOH) ([[Persian Gulf]], [[Strait of Hormuz]], [[Abu Dhabi]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=The European mission is now operational in the Arabian-Persian Gulf|url=https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/the-european-mission-is-now-operational-in-the-arabian-persian-gulf|access-date=2020-12-28|website=Gouvernement.fr|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=European Maritime Awareness in The Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH)|url=https://fmn.dk/en/topics/operations/igangvarende-operationer/hormuz/|access-date=2020-12-28|website=Ministry of Defence|language=en}}</ref>
*2021: [[Operation Sea Guardian]] (part of NATO) ([[United Kingdom]]: [[Northwood Headquarters|Northwood OHQ]])
*2021: [[Operation Irini]] (part of EU NAVFOR MED)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ponthier |first1=Annick |last2=Verduyckt |first2=Kris |title=PLAN D'OPÉRATIONS 2021 - Audition |url=https://www.dekamer.be/flwb/pdf/55/1706/55K1706001.pdf |publisher=CHAMBRE DES REPRÉSENTANTS DE BELGIQUE |date=22 December 2020}}</ref>
*2021: [[NATO Training Mission – Iraq|Nato Training Mission Iraq]] (part of NATO)

===Future===
The future of the Belgian armed forces under the leadership of Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder involves a significant rebuilding and expansion effort. After years of budgetary cuts, Belgium aims to boost its defense budget and capabilities to meet the challenges of a changing security landscape, particularly in the wake of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].

The key aspects of the plan include:

*Increased Investment: The Belgian government has announced the STAR Plan, a substantial increase in defense spending to reach 1.54 percent of GDP by 2030 and two percent by 2035, in line with NATO's target.
*Personnel Expansion: For the first time since conscription ended in 1993, Belgium's armed forces will be expanded from the current 25,000 to 29,000 personnel by 2030.
*Infrastructure Development: New military bases will be built, and planned closures of other bases will be canceled, while keeping facilities decentralized to offer workplaces closer to personnel's homes.
*Emphasis on Cyber and Intelligence: The recent establishment of a new cyber command center reflects the focus on countering hybrid threats and investing in modern capabilities.
*Addressing Extremism: The armed forces are addressing concerns about far-right extremism within their ranks by reinforcing the military intelligence service and improving communication and cooperation with other security services.

Overall, Dedonder's vision is to ensure that Belgium's defense is well-prepared, adequately funded, and capable of operating within European, NATO, or United Nations frameworks to contribute to collective defense and respond to emerging security challenges effectively.
<ref name="The Brussels Times">{{cite web|title=Interview: Belgian Defence Minister pledges to rebuild country’s armed forces|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/341401/interview-defence-minister-ludivine-dedonder-pledges-to-rebuild-belgiums-armed-forces/|website=www.brusselstimes.com}}</ref>

==Structure==
{{Main|Structure of the Belgian Armed Forces}}

Since July 2024 the Belgian Armed Forces are structured as follows:
* [[Belgian Army]] (''Force Terrestre / Landmacht'')
* [[Belgian Air Force]] (''Force Aérienne / Luchtmacht'')
* [[Belgian Navy]] (''Marine'')
* [[Belgian Medical Service]] (''Service Médicale / Medische dienst'')
* [[Belgian Cyber Force]] (''Force Cyber / Cybermacht'')

Special Operations Command or SOCOM, does not have direct command over special operations, but is an intermediary center for coordination and communication of special operations between the armed forces components. The command provides advice and expertise and is also tasked with acquisition and distributions of equipment for SOF units. SOCOM is managed by ACOS Operations and Training.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-23|title=De hoge ambities van het Special Operations Command|url=https://magazines.mil.be/socom/|access-date=2020-12-25|website=magazines.mil.be|language=nl-NL|archive-date=23 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123205110/https://magazines.mil.be/socom/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Currently, SOCOM is responsible for setting up the new Composite Special Operations Command Center or C-SOCC. This new command center is an international project between Special Operations units of Belgium, The Netherlands and Denmark.<ref>{{Cite web|last=NATO|title=Three Allies establish Special Forces Command|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_155347.htm|access-date=2020-12-26|website=NATO|language=fr}}</ref>

The Belgian Army, Air Force, Medical Services, and Cyber Force all use the [[Belgian military ranks|same military ranks]]. The Navy's ranks are unique in the Belgian Armed Forces.

=== Belgian Military Bases ===
<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verhoeven |first=Erwin |date=March 19, 2025 |title=IN KAART. De kazernes van het Belgisch leger: waar liggen ze, en wat gebeurt er? |url=https://www.hln.be/binnenland/in-kaart-de-kazernes-van-het-belgisch-leger-waar-liggen-ze-en-wat-gebeurt-er~aa197cc0/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=HLN}}</ref>
==== Flanders ====

===== Army Bases =====
* '''Brasschaat''' – Bataljon Artillerie (Artillery Battalion) – 450 soldiers
* '''Burcht''' – 11e Bataljon Genie (Engineering Battalion) – 580 soldiers
* '''Gavere''' – 17e Compagnie van het 3e Bataljon Parachutisten (Paratrooper Company) – 120 soldiers
* '''Grobbendonk''' – 29ste Bataljon Logistiek (Logistics Battalion) – 500 soldiers
* '''Leopoldsburg''' – Hoofdkwartier Gemotoriseerde Brigade (Mechanized Brigade HQ) – ~2,000 soldiers
* '''Lombardsijde''' – Artillerie- en Infanteriebasis (Artillery and Infantry Base) – 430 soldiers, expanding to 1,200
* '''Tielen''' – [[3rd Paratroopers Battalion (Belgium)|3rd Paratroopers Battalion]] – ~500 soldiers<ref>[https://www.rtv.be/defensie-wil-paras-verhuizen-van-tielen-naar-gavere Defensie wil para’s verhuizen van Tielen naar Gavere] – RTV, 22 September 2020.</ref>

===== Air Force Bases =====
* '''Kleine-Brogel''' – 10e Tactische Wing (Tactical Wing) – 1,300 soldiers
* '''Koksijde''' – 40ste Smaldeel (Helicopter Unit) – 250 soldiers
* '''Melsbroek''' – 15e Air Transport Wing – ~1,000 soldiers

===== Navy Bases =====
* '''Zeebrugge''' – Marinebasis (Main Naval Base) – 1,000-1,500 soldiers
* '''Oostende''' – Mijnenbestrijdingsschool EGUERMIN (Mine Warfare School, future Navy Academy) – 100, expanding to 500

===== Special Facilities =====
* '''Evere''' – Hoofdkwartier Defensie (Defense HQ) – Up to 4,000 personnel
* '''Peutie''' – Special Operations Regiment & Logistic Base – 1,170 soldiers
* '''Meerdaal''' – Hoofdkwartier DOVO (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) – 200 personnel
* '''Poelkapelle''' – DOVO-kazerne (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Base) – 120 soldiers
* '''Schaffen''' – Paratrooper Training Center – 190 soldiers
* '''Sint-Truiden (Saffraanberg)''' – Koninklijke School voor Onderofficieren (Royal Non-Commissioned Officer School) – Up to 1,500 students
* '''Koninklijke Militaire School (Brussels)''' – Officer Training School – Several hundred students
* '''Neder-over-Heembeek''' – Militair Hospitaal (Military Hospital) – 700 personnel

==== Wallonia ====

===== Army Bases =====
* '''Amay''' – 4e Bataljon Genie (Engineering Battalion) – 600 soldiers
* '''Bertrix''' – 260ste Compagnie Munitie (Munitions Storage) – Limited personnel
* '''Doornik''' – Belgian Defense Logistic School – 240 soldiers
* '''Elsenborn''' – Trainingskamp voor zware wapens (Heavy Weapons Training Camp) – 150 soldiers
* '''Flawinne''' – 2e Bataljon Commando’s (Commando Battalion) – 650 soldiers
* '''Marche-en-Famenne''' – Regiment Ardense Jagers, 1/3 Lansiers en 4e Logistiek Bataljon – 2,050 soldiers

===== Air Force Bases =====
* '''Bevekom (Beauvechain)''' – 1ste Wing (Helicopter and Training Base) – 1,300 soldiers
* '''Florennes''' – 2e Tactische Wing (Tactical Wing with F-16s and Drones) – 1,125 soldiers

===Belgian Army===
{{main|Belgian Army}}
[[File:BELGICANA GRENADIERS 43.JPG|thumb|Belgian grenadiers at a memorial service]]

The [[Belgian Army]] is the ground arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. The Army Commander is Major-General Pierre Gérard.(since 18 October 2019). The Army consists of one staff (COMOPSLAND), one motorized brigade, one special operations regiment supported by an artillery battalion, two engineer battalions and a reconnaissance (ISTAR) battalion. It is also supported by three logistical units, three telecommunication units, four training camps and a center for the training of ground troops.

The Army has around 10,000 troops (as of 2023) and trained for foreign operations in a multinational environment. 
Around 7500 of them are part of the [[Motorized Brigade (Belgium)]] and ~1500 part of [[Special Operations Regiment (Belgium)]] and around ~1000 are part of other branches such as military police, Explosive Removal and Destruction Service (DOVO) and more.

=== Belgian Air Force ===
{{main|Belgian Air Force}}
[[File:F-16 MLU of Belgian Air Force's Solo Display Team (reg. FA-133), taxiing, Radom AirShow 2005, Poland.jpg|thumb|An [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] jet of the Belgian Air Force]]

The [[Belgian Air Force]] is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. The history of the Belgian Air Force began in 1910 when the Minister of War, General Hellebout, decided after his first flight to acquire aeroplanes. On 5 May 1911 a Farman type 1910 was delivered, followed by a second on 24 May and two other in August of the same year. The air force commander is Major-General aviator Thierry Dupont. (04/07/2023)
The air force consists of two fighter aircraft wing, the second tactical wing in [[Florennes]], operating the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16 Fighting Falcon]] and a unit (80 UAV squadron) flying the B-Hunter reconnaissance UAV, the 10 tactical wing in [[Kleine Brogel]], operating the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the 15 air transport wing in [[Melsbroek]] operating 10 [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] transport aircraft and 2 out of 8 [[Airbus A400M Atlas]] modern transport aircraft which will replace the C-130s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ac.nato.int/archive/2020/belgian-air-force-welcomes-first-a400m-modern-transport-aircraft |title=Belgian Air Force welcomes first A400M modern transport aircraft |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=23 December 2020 |website=ac.nato.int |publisher=NATO Allied Air Command |access-date=23 December 2020 }}</ref> Two of the new A400Ms are currently operable (CT-01, shared with the Luxembourg Air Force and CT-02),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ac.nato.int/archive/2020/BEL_LUX_BNU_A400M |title=Belgian-Luxembourg unit to operate both allies' A400M missions |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 October 2020 |website=ac.nato.int |publisher= NATO Allied Air Command |access-date=23 December 2020 }}</ref> four more are scheduled to arrive in 2021. The 15th Wing also operates a small fleet of troop transport and VIP aircraft. The first wing in [[Beauvechain]] operates training aircraft and helicopters (A-109 and NH-90 helicopters). Aside from these flying units, the air force is supported by several support units, such as an air traffic control center, an air defense center (Control and Reporting Center), a meteorological wing and an aviation safety directorate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mil.be/nl/luchtcomponent|language=nl|date=2018-09-23|title=Luchtcomponent}}</ref>

=== Belgian Navy ===
[[File:F930 leopold Zeebrugge.jpg|thumb|[[Belgian frigate Leopold I (F930)|Leopold I]], a frigate of the Belgian Navy]]
The [[Belgian Navy]] is the naval arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. It currently has 1,200 personnel and 10 vessels. The Navy Commander is Rear Admiral Jan De Beurme, since 28 September 2020. Current vessels are:

'''Frigates''':

* [[Belgian frigate Leopold I (F930)|BNS F930 Leopold I]]
* [[Belgian frigate Louise-Marie (F931)|BNS F931 Louise-Marie]]

'''Minesweepers''':

* [[Belgian minehunter Bellis (M916)|BNS M916 Bellis]]
* [[Belgian minehunter Crocus (M917)|BNS M917 Crocus]]
* [[Belgian minehunter Lobelia (M921)|BNS M921 Lobelia]]
* [[Belgian minehunter Narcis (M923)|BNS M923 Narcis]]
* [[Belgian minehunter Primula (M924)|BNS M924 Primula]]

'''Patrol Boats''':

* [[Belgian patrol vessel Castor (P901)|BNS P901 Castor]] 
* [[Belgian patrol vessel Pollux (P902)|BNS P902 Pollux]]

'''Auxiliary Vessels''':

* [[BNS A958 Zenobe Gramme]] (training ship)

=== Belgian Medical Service ===
{{main|Belgian Medical Service}}

The Medical Services is commanded by a [[Major General]] and is composed of 1,700 active personnel. Providing medical support to all personnel of the Belgium Armed forces, it consists of a Military Hospital and 2 Medical Battalions as well as a Medical Supply Unit.

=== Intelligence ===
A Belgian military intelligence service was founded on 1 April 1915. The [[Belgian General Information and Security Service]], known as ADIV (Dutch) or SGRS (French) and part of the organisational chart of Belgian Defence as ACOS-IS (Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence and Security) provides security intelligence for the Armed Forces as well as strategic intelligence for the Belgian government. Its focus is on counterespionage.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lasoen|first1=Kenneth|title=For Belgian Eyes Only. Intelligence Cooperation in Belgium|journal=International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence|date=2017|volume=40|issue=3|page=464|doi=10.1080/08850607.2017.1297110|url=https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8512001|hdl=1854/LU-8512001|s2cid=157376383|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

The [[Jagers te Paard Battalion]] ([[ISTAR]]) also conducts military intelligence with a tactical goal of preparing and supporting operations abroad.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Standing Review Committee of the Intelligence Services|first1=Committee I|title=Activiteitenverslag 2013 - Report d'activités 2013|date=2014|publisher=Intersentia|location=Antwerp|page=13|url=http://www.comiteri.be/images/pdf/Jaarverslagen/Activiteitenverslag_2013.pdf}}</ref>

==Belgian Royal family in the Belgian Armed Forces==
{| class="wikitable" width=100%
|-
! width=29% colspan=2 | Member
! width=20%| [[Belgian Army]]
! width=20%| [[Belgian Air Force]]
! width=18%| [[Belgian Navy]]
! width=13%| [[Belgian Medical Service]]
|-
! width=20% colspan=2|
| align=center |[[File:Flag of the Belgian Army.svg|border|x50px]]
| align=center |[[File:Air Force Ensign of Belgium.svg|border|x50px]]
| align=center |[[File:Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg|border|x50px]]
| align=center |[[File:Logo Composante Medicale (Armee Belge).svg|border|x50px]]
|-
| [[File:King Philippe of Belgium (Belgian National Day, 2018).jpg|x50px]]
| [[Philippe of Belgium|The King]]
| [[General]] || [[General]] || [[Admiral]]||
|-
| [[File:Princess Astrid at the World Investment Forum 2018 (cropped).jpg|x50px]]
| [[Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este|The Archduchess of Austria-Este]]
| || || || [[Colonel]] (2003)
|-
| <!-- [[File:|x50px]] -->
|[[Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant|Crown princess Elisabeth]]
| [[onderluitenant]] (2023) || || ||
|-
| [[File:Prins Laurent van België.jpg|x50px]]
| [[Prince Laurent of Belgium|Prince Laurent]]
| || || [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] (2004)<br /><small>Fr : Capitaine de Vaisseau<br />Nl : Kapitein-ter-zee</small>||
|-
| <!-- [[File:|x50px]] -->
|[[Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este|Prince Amedeo]]
| [[Second Lieutenant]] (2007) || || ||
|-
| <!-- [[File:|x50px]] -->
|[[Prince Joachim of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este|Prince Joachim]]
| || || [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]] 2nd Class (2011) ||
|}

==See also==
*[[List of military decorations#Belgium|List of Belgian military decorations]]
*[[Belgian United Nations Command]] – the Belgian detachment sent to the [[Korean War]] of 1950–53

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{CIA World Factbook|year=2005}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last1=Draper |first1=Mario |title=The Belgian Army and Society from Independence to the Great War |date=2018 |publisher=Palgrave-Macmillan |location=Cham |isbn=978-3-319-70385-5}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}
*{{official website|http://www.mil.be}} {{in lang|nl|fr}}
*[http://www.opoccuu.com/belgium-rank-insignia.htm Belgian army rank insignia]
*Simoens, Tom: [https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/belgian_soldiers/ Belgian Soldiers], in: [https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/home.html/ 1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War].

{{Belgium topics}}
{{Belgian military}}
{{Military of Europe}}
{{Military history of Europe}}
{{Militaries of European Union member states}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

[[Category:Military of Belgium| ]]