Prime Minister gives reason why Belgium postponed delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine until 2026
6 March 16:55
Belgium expects to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in 2026. The delivery of the aircraft has been postponed as Belgium expects to receive F-35s to replace the F-16s.
This was stated by Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever before a meeting with EU leaders in Brussels, France 24 reports, "Komersant Ukrainian".
Earlier, Belgium’s Chief of Defense Staff Frederic Vansina warned that the first of the 30 F-16s that Brussels promised Ukraine would arrive with a delay until the end of 2025.
What is known about the F-16 from Belgium?
In December 2023, Belgium announced that it would transfer 30 of its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Belgium agreed to transfer its F-16s to Ukraine because it had purchased a new generation of F-35 fighters.
The first planes were to be delivered by the end of 2024. Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder assured that this would happen “as soon as possible.”
And Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Kroo noted that all delivered F-16s would be paid for with taxes from frozen Russian assets, not “Belgian money.”
However, the Belgian Armed Forces received their first of 34 F-35s a year late. So the delivery of F-16s was postponed.
