What kind of military does Belgium need?

Описание: A discussion of the Belgian military and Belgian military policy. If you like this video, please consider making a donation using the "thanks" button or buying me some coffee, so to speak, here: https://buymeacoffee.com/shurkin.

Here's the April 2025 Belgian parliament defense paper: https://www.dekamer.be/flwb/pdf/56/08...

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Former CIA analyst, former RAND Senior Political Scientist, Currently Director of Global Programs at 14 North Strategies and RUSI Associate Fellow. Yale History Ph.D. Find me at https://michaelshurkin.com

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My favorite books on war (Affiliate links)

Svetlana Alexievitch, “The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II.” https://amzn.to/3GyeDIV
Haruko Taya Cook, Japan at War: An Oral History, https://amzn.to/42Dpo5j.
Vasily Grossman, "Life and Fate." https://amzn.to/4gRzFz6
Robert Heinlein, "Starship Troopers", https://amzn.to/406gqfA
Ernst Jünger, “Storm of Steel”, https://amzn.to/4lWmyji
Ahmadou Kourouma, "Allah is not obliged." https://amzn.to/3PaEfwj
Robert Leckie, “Helmet for my Pillow: From Paris Island to the Pacific,” https://amzn.to/3YrmWwe
Väinö Linna, "Unknown Soldiers." https://amzn.to/41Rnazm
Jonathan Littell, "Les Bienveillantes, or The Kindly Ones."
In French: https://amzn.to/4a0BY0A
In English: https://amzn.to/49VEhSh
Erich Maria Remarque, "All Quiet on the Western Front." https://amzn.to/4iRvnJB
Pierre Schoendoerffer, "La 317e Section." https://amzn.to/40dmvG3
E.B. Sledge, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa. https://amzn.to/4iSkBlu

00:00 Introduction
01:55 Part 1: Overview of the Belgian Military
03:53 Part 2: What's Belgium's military for? Belgian military policy
06:18 Chief military requirement
06:54 Cold War Belgian Military
08:13 Post Cold War cuts
09:23 Shift to expeditionary focus
10:16 CaMo
10:39 SCORPION
14:09 The Russian invasion in 2022 and the STAR plan
15:16 Part 3: Is the Belgian military on the right track?
21:38 Hesitations