Belgium:
Military & Transnational Issues


Military branches	Definition Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Command (2008)
Military service age and obligation	Definition 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2008)
Manpower available for military service	Definition males age 16-49: 2,407,128 females age 16-49: 2,340,039 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service	Definition - World rank and map males age 16-49: 1,973,167 females age 16-49: 1,915,990 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually	Definition males age 16-49: 64,659 females age 16-49: 61,881 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	Definition - World rank and map 1.3% (2005 est.)

Disputes - international	Definition none
Illicit drugs	Definition growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy