Belgium Re-establishes Reservist Corps for First Time Since Cold War

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, Belgium has a genuine territorial reservist corps. On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the 1st Fusiliers Battalion of the new Territorial Reserve was formally inaugurated at the Amay barracks near Liège — the first of five planned battalions tasked with defending Belgian territory. Defense Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) called the establishment “a historic step” and “one of the most important reforms of this legislature,” according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

A Historic Reversal

Belgium has not operated a full-fledged reservist corps since the late 1980s. The country’s “Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten” (Internal Forces) were gradually dismantled after the fall of the Berlin Wall and formally abolished in 2002 by then-Defense Minister André Flahaut (PS). For more than two decades, Belgium remained one of the few NATO allies without a dedicated territorial defense force — a gap that defense officials say left critical infrastructure vulnerable.

The new Territorial Reserve, operating under the motto “Custodes Patriae” — Guardians of the Fatherland — is designed to reverse that legacy. Lieutenant-Colonel Michel Paquay, who commands both the 1st Fusiliers Battalion and the broader Territorial Reserve, outlined the unit’s mission: “Our first task is the protection of our own population and territory. Think of the security of critical infrastructure in our own country, such as nuclear sites and communication systems, but also ports, railways and highways.”

Structure and Timeline

The Territorial Reserve is planned to grow to 3,500 personnel by 2030, with potential for further expansion. Each of the five planned battalions will be responsible for two provinces and consist of four to five companies of approximately 150 soldiers each. As VRT NWS reported, the reform comes as Belgium meets NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target for the first time in 32 years — a milestone reached in 2025 under Francken’s accelerated timeline.

Paquay emphasized the dual-purpose nature of the force: “Our first goal is the defense of our own country.” Beyond territorial defense, the reserve will be deployable for natural disaster response, such as flooding, and will play a critical enablement role — facilitating the movement of allied troops and equipment through strategic hubs like the Port of Antwerp.

The Voluntary Military Service Year

A cornerstone of the Territorial Reserve is the new voluntary military service year (“vrijwillig militair dienstjaar”). In November 2025, all 149,000 17-year-olds in Belgium received a personal letter from Minister Francken inviting them to serve. The program offers €2,000 net per month, free public transport, and the option to join the Territorial Reserve for ten years after completing service.

The response was overwhelming. When registration opened in January 2026, 1,702 young people signed up within the first two hours — more than triple the available 500 places, as VRT NWS reported. The first cohort of 500 recruits will begin training in autumn 2026, with numbers set to expand in subsequent years.

The Reserve 3.0 Concept

The Territorial Reserve is part of a broader “Reserve 3.0” restructuring that divides Belgium’s reserve forces into three pillars: the Specialized Reserve (filling expertise gaps), the Territorial Reserve (new — focused on homeland defense), and the Combat Reserve (attached to regular combat units).

Colonel Cathy Wouters, Head of Partnerships & Engagement at Belgian Defense, highlighted a structural challenge the reform aims to address: “Today we have an inverted personnel pyramid among reservists. About 53% are officers, 35% NCOs, and we have barely 12% soldiers or sailors. For a healthy organization, we MUST reverse that pyramid.”

Strategic Context

The re-establishment must be understood against the backdrop of heightened European security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, hybrid warfare threats, and increasing risks of sabotage to critical infrastructure. Many NATO allies, including the Netherlands and France, already maintain territorial reserve forces. Belgium’s reform aligns with NATO’s evolving expectations for burden-sharing and territorial defense capabilities.

What’s Next

By February 2027, recruits from the voluntary military service year will be trained within the Territorial Reserve structure. The government aims to reach 12,800 total reservists by 2035, while Belgium’s Strategic Vision (2026-2034) commits €34.8 billion to defense. NATO members have agreed to raise defense spending targets to 3.5% of GDP on defense plus 1.5% on support by 2035 — a benchmark Belgium has pledged to meet.

Lieutenant-Colonel Paquay acknowledged the voluntary nature of reserve service presents challenges: “We can call them back for about 20 days per year to maintain their skills. But it remains voluntary — we cannot compel them.” Whether the 3,500 target by 2030 will prove sufficient given the scale of potential threats remains an open question, but for now, Belgium has taken what its defense minister calls a genuinely historic step toward rebuilding its territorial defense capacity.