Belgium has confirmed its participation in the training of Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighter jets, which may be deployed by several countries in the conflict zone with

Russia. The proposal received approval from the Belgian federal government on Friday, as confirmed by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo's spokesperson on Sunday.

The specific details of Belgium's engagement in the training programs will be finalized in the coming days. The extent of their participation will depend on the needs that will be defined in collaboration with partner countries, the spokesperson added.

During the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed support for the plan to train Ukrainian pilots to operate American F-16 fighters. Belgium, which also possesses its own fleet of F-16s, is not listed as one of the countries set to supply such aircraft to Ukraine.

Belgian Defense Minister Ludovine Dedonder reiterated in parliament on Wednesday that providing F-16s is not feasible due to the aircraft nearing the end of their operational life. The Belgian military requires them for national missions and international obligations. Dedonder emphasized that each request for assistance is internally analyzed to ensure that providing aid does not compromise operational capacity.

Belgium's involvement in training Ukrainian pilots for F-16s reflects the international collaboration and support extended to Ukraine in enhancing its defense capabilities amid the ongoing tensions with Russia. Photo by FaceMePLS from The Hague, The Netherlands, Wikimedia commons.