Naval News – Belgium’s long-running plan to replace its ageing M-class frigates has entered a new and potentially consequential phase. Defence Minister Theo Francken has publicly stated that the joint Dutch-Belgian frigate programme is moving “completely in the wrong direction” on both delivery dates and price, an outcome he described as unacceptable.

The Defence Post – The Belgian frigate Louise-Marie has joined a NATO mission to boost maritime security.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – Belgium is about to increase its defense budget significantly. The country’s Parliament recently adopted a revised version of the military planning law (loi de programmation militaire, LPM) which includes an extra 11.7 billion Euros, among which a minority part is devoted to the Belgian Navy.

War Zone – The reported attack on an Israeli commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman follows attacks on an Iranian nuclear site and covert mothership.

Defense Technology International – Leopold I Leaves for Lebanon

The Belgian frigate Leopold I will be the flagship of the UN Interim Force In Lebanon Maritime Task Force (UNIFIL MTF) between 1 March and 31 May. The Leopold I will leave the Belgian port of Zeebrugge on 16 February to relieve the French frigate De Grasse, the current flagship of the UNIFIL MTF.