Belgium eyes Turkish frigates as Dutch defense deal falters
Belgium will seek proposals from shipbuilders in Türkiye and four other European countries as it considers pulling out of its joint anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigate program with the Netherlands over mounting costs and delays, Defense Minister Theo Francken has announced.
A final decision is expected in October, media reports said.
The move puts Türkiye’s Istanbul-class (İstif) frigates among the contenders for one of Belgium’s largest defense procurements, following growing naval cooperation between Brussels and Ankara in recent months.
Speaking to VTM Nieuws, Francken criticized the Dutch-led ASWF program, saying the estimated cost per frigate had climbed from 600 million euros to 1.3 billion euros, while deliveries had been pushed back to the late 2030s.
