Almost 100 people protested in Brussels today against plans by the Belgian center-right government to cut pensions and social spending in order to reduce the country's huge national debt.

In addition to street protests, Brussels International Airport has been closed and buses and trams have largely stopped.

The reasons for the protests are the same across Europe, where a weakened economy is forcing governments to cut social benefits long taken for granted.

Belgium, home to NATO headquarters, currently spends just 1.3 percent, making it one of the four worst countries among NATO members.

The worsening budget crisis is accompanied by growing pressure from Belgium's NATO partners, particularly the US, to increase the defense budget to two percent of gross domestic product.

Defense Minister Theo Franken insisted that things would change.

"We will have extra money. Belgium is a rich country. We will find the money," he told a meeting of NATO defense ministers.

The announcement that the money would be spent on defense, not pensions, gave an additional impetus to the demonstrations.

"The choice was made for massive investments in defense, scaring people as if Putin could be in Brussels tomorrow," union leaders said.

De Wever insisted in parliament that "reforms will be gradual and will have social justice as a guiding principle."