Belgian Army Recruitment Reaches Five-Year High With Nearly 3,000 New Soldiers

Belgium recruited nearly 3,000 professional soldiers in 2025, the highest annual intake in five years, according to Belga News Agency on May 13.

The Belgian armed forces enlisted 2,993 professional military personnel last year, up from 2,789 in 2021, according to figures provided by MP Axel Weydts.

The biggest gains came among officers and non-commissioned officers, while volunteer recruitment dipped slightly.

Weydts, a former army officer, stated that the figures show "many committed Belgians see their future in Defense." He added that the military is recruiting across a wide range of specializations beyond combat roles, including engineers and IT specialists.

Officer recruitment climbed from 352 to 509 over the same period, while the number of non-commissioned officers rose from 1,017 to 1,181. Volunteer recruitment dipped slightly.

The armed forces also brought in 800 reservists last year, roughly double the level recorded four years earlier. Female recruitment expanded as well, with the number of women entering officer ranks growing by nearly 58% since 2021.

Belgian officials have linked the recruitment surge to rising international tensions and increased defense spending, factors they argue have made military careers more attractive.

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Earlier, Belgium's Defense Ministry announced plans to double its personnel by 2035 and introduce a new voluntary service year, part of a broader effort to expand the country's military footprint.

The Belgian buildup reflects a wider European turn toward higher defense outlays, a trajectory reinforced at the highest political level earlier this month. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz on May 7 urged EU members to raise defense spending and close capability gaps across the bloc.

Speaking in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Merz stated that stronger investment was the only way to address Europe's shortfalls and sustain collective support for Ukraine.

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