Belgium training Ukrainians on underwater drones: MoD
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Belgium is training Ukrainian soldiers on using underwater drones in light of the situation
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Remotely Operated Vehicle 7 (ECA Robotics Belgium)
Ukrainian soldiers arrived in Belgium for training courses on operating underwater drones, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said Thursday.
"Today we are welcoming [Ukrainian] soldiers in Belgium as part of the #EUMAM (European Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine) mission," she said on Twitter.
"They will undergo training on the underwater systems delivered by Belgium to Ukraine. I've expressed to them my profound support and saluted the courage shown for almost a year now," she added.
Today we are welcoming 🇺🇦 soldiers in Belgium as part of the #EUMAM mission. They will undergo training on the underwater systems delivered by Belgium to Ukraine. I’ve expressed them my profound support and saluted the courage shown for almost a year now. pic.twitter.com/owZyKE51Jm
— Ludivine Dedonder (@DedonderLudivin) February 9, 2023
The Belgian cabinet approved in November 2022 the delivery of 10 unmanned underwater drones produced by ECA Robotics Belgium to Ukraine.
The Belgian authorities said these drones allowed Kiev's forces to detect all underwater threats such as mines and spying devices. Similar equipment has already been employed by the Belgian army.
Belgium is cooperating with Ukraine despite the Belgian people opposing NATO and their country's participation in drills with the alliance.
The Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons protested in late October in the hundreds at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, against the Western alliance's nuclear exercises dubbed "Steadfast Noon".
"[T]he Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons demonstrated against the military nuclear exercise 'Steadfast Noon' that is taking place on Belgian territory. The coalition went to the NATO headquarters in Brussels to express their outrage," the organization said in a press release.
Nuclear weapons being present on Belgian soil, as well as the holding of nuclear exercises, was in "explicit violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty", the organization's statement further added.
"At a time of rising international tensions, with in recent weeks repeated threats to use nuclear weapons, conducting a military nuclear exercise is irresponsible and only increases the risk of a confrontation with Russia," the Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons underlined.
