{"id":10159,"date":"2025-11-25T17:19:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T16:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/?p=10159"},"modified":"2025-12-16T15:42:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T14:42:27","slug":"bel-mod-lecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/bel-mod-lecture\/","title":{"rendered":"The Belgian Minister of Defence Mr Francken visits the NATO Defense College"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 25 November 2025, the Belgian Minister of Defence (MoD), Mr Theo Francken and his delegation, visited the NATO Defense College (NDC). During this visit, the Minister met with NDC Commandant LGEN Max A.L.T. Nielsen and NDC Dean Dr Suzanne Nielsen. He also delivered a lecture on \u201cThe Necessity of European Rearmament\u201d to Senior Course 147 and the Modular Short Course Partners Integrated 147-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>

Address by Mr Theo Francken, Belgian Minister of Defence for SC147 and MSC-PI 147-1<\/p>

Essential Blocks Slider Subtitle<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Course Member of SC147 asking a question to Mr Francken, Belgian Minister of Defence<\/p>

Essential Blocks Slider Subtitle<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

NDC Commandant LGEN Max A.L.T. Nielsen receiving Mr Theo Francken, Belgian Minister of Defence at the NATO Defense College<\/p>

Essential Blocks Slider Subtitle<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Course Member of SC147 asking a question to Mr Francken, Belgian Minister of Defence<\/p>

Essential Blocks Slider Subtitle<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Office Call with NDC Commandant LGEN Max A.L.T. Nielsen, NDC Dean Dr Suzannne Nielsen and Belgian Minister of Defence Mr Theo Francken<\/p>

Essential Blocks Slider Subtitle<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Course Members of SC147 and MSC-PI 147-1 listening to the address of Belgian Minister of Defence Mr Theo Francken<\/p>

Essential Blocks Slider Subtitle<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Minister encouraged the audience to reflect on how Europe\u2019s military capabilities evolved after the Cold War, at a time when deterrence was not prioritized. Citing Belgium as an example, the lecture explored how this shift in focus shaped defence cuts, leaving Europe less prepared for the reassertion of global powers, including Russia\u2019s renewed assertiveness and China\u2019s growing influence. The discussion also emphasized how closer transatlantic cooperation in defence technology and production could significantly bolster Europe\u2019s capabilities. Throughout his remarks, Mr Francken emphasized the importance of addressing personnel shortages, industrial delays, and political hesitation to ensure European democracies can defend themselves effectively and in unison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belgium plays a central role as the host nation for NATO Headquarters and SHAPE, and has maintained a long-standing partnership with the NATO Defense College. Through the NDC Field Studies, Course Members gain first-hand exposure to the country\u2019s NATO-related institutions, operations, and contributions. To date, 484 participants from Belgium have attended NDC courses. Belgian engagement also includes high-level interactions during the Senior Course and NATO Regional Cooperation Course. Notably, this year, Frederik Vansina, the Belgian Chief of Defence, delivered a keynote address during the 71st Anciens Conference and Seminar, exemplifying the country\u2019s ongoing commitment to the College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The College also welcomed H.E. Mr Andy Detaille, Belgian Ambassador to Italy, Colonel Dirk Taffeiren, Belgian Defence Attach\u00e9 in Italy, and Mr Bruno L\u2019\u00e9t\u00e9, Defence Policy Director & Diplomatic Advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Britt Melinga, NLD C)
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On 25 November 2025, the Belgian Minister of Defence (MoD), Mr Theo Francken and his delegation, visited the<\/p>","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":10160,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","editor_plus_copied_stylings":"{}","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[30],"post_badge":[],"class_list":["post-10159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-news","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Chlo\u00e9 Ketels","author_link":""},"modified_by":"NDC Public Affairs Office","author_meta":{"display_name":"Chlo\u00e9 Ketels","author_link":""},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-445x250.jpg","featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1.jpg",2048,1152,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-445x250.jpg",445,250,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-768x432.jpg",640,360,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-1024x576.jpg",640,360,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-1536x864.jpg",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1.jpg",2048,1152,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-18x10.jpg",18,10,true],"morenews-featured":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/147-BEL-MOD-LoO_1-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"category_info":"News<\/a>","tag_info":"News","comment_count":0,"coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["News<\/a>"],"unlinked":["News<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["News<\/a>"],"unlinked":["News<\/span>"]}},"relative_dates":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 8 mois il y a","modified":"Mis \u00e0 jour 7 mois il y a"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 le novembre 25, 2025","modified":"Mise \u00e0 jour le d\u00e9cembre 16, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 le novembre 25, 2025 17:19","modified":"Mise \u00e0 jour le d\u00e9cembre 16, 2025 15:42"},"featured_img_caption":"Address by Mr Theo Francken, Belgian Minister of Defence for SC147 and MSC-PI 147-1","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10159"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10166,"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10159\/revisions\/10166"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10159"},{"taxonomy":"post_badge","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_badge?post=10159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}