Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has announced a joint operation between federal police and the military to combat drug trafficking and public disorder in Brussels.
The initiative marks the first joint security operation between police officers and armed forces personnel in the Belgian capital. Francken announced the measures on Friday in a message published on social media, framing the deployment as a direct response to rising insecurity and violence linked to illegal drug networks.
Under the integrated security plan, federal police forces and members of the Belgian Armed Forces will work together to suppress public disturbances, general crime, and drug trafficking across affected parts of the city.
Joint police and military deployment
Francken defended the decision to deploy military personnel by pointing to severe insecurity in specific areas of the city. He stated that law enforcement and military authorities needed to take back control of public streets and train stations.
As Defence Minister, Francken oversees the Belgian Armed Forces, the national military service responsible for territorial defence and supporting domestic civil authorities during major security challenges.
Security challenges and public safety
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and serves as the administrative centre of the European Union and the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. As an international hub and transport crossroads in Western Europe, the city hosts major railway networks and transit hubs.
The Belgian Federal Police operates under federal authority, providing specialized law enforcement, railway policing, and security operations across the country, including the Brussels-Capital Region.
Belgium has previously deployed military forces to support police in public spaces during periods of heightened security threats, using joint patrols around critical infrastructure and transit hubs.
The newly announced integrated operation will see police units and military personnel coordinate directly on ground operations, focusing on restoring order in high-risk zones across Brussels.
