First of all, there are two NATO HQs in Belgium, the political one in Evere near Brussels and the military one in Casteau near Mons.
Both are protected by a battalion of Belgian troops.
Furthermore, Belgian soldiers are used for security tasks such as guarding strategic points, airports, train stations, schools, etc. They also patrol the streets and have been instrumental in the fight against terrorism.
The military are also Belgium”s major disaster relief force. Belgium has a lot of engineers for this purpose.
Finally, Belgium is a founding member of NATO and has a rather good military tradition. Belgium may have a small army, but it is a very well trained army; 50% of the combat troops are special forces, a world record.
Belgium takes its obligations very seriously, the Belgian Army has been training NATO troops in infiltration techniques since 1954. Each year we train a batch of foreign troops of about 200 men in two courses lasting 6 months per 100 soldiers.
The Belgian Navy is fully integrated with the Dutch Navy, so Belgium has obligations here as well.
We expect to fully integrate the Dutch and Belgian Air Forces by 2021 or 2022, so, again, obligations.
Belgium is also “heavy” in staff members and a lot of specialized work for NATO and Non-NATO Allies is done by Belgians. These staff members are fluent in a wide variety of languages and get courses in various countries. As such, when a country is low on staff members, they can call on the Belgians to help them out.
And there is, of course, the matter of national pride, do not forget the Belgians held up the German advance in 1914 long enough for the British and French to stabilize the front. The Belgians saved the day back then, you do not throw such a feat away easily.
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