Belgian Defence Minister Urges US Diplomacy Amid Trump-Meloni Friction

Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken urged European leaders to maintain diplomatic relations with the United States, stating that Europe will remain dependent on American military protection for another five to ten years. His remarks follow a social media post by US President Donald Trump, who joked about needing a restraining order against Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The friction between the two leaders stems from a June G7 summit in France, where Trump claimed Meloni begged for a photograph, an allegation Meloni denied. While defending Meloni as a key figure for the European centre-right, Francken advocated for strategic patience with Washington.

These diplomatic tensions occur alongside broader US pressure on NATO members regarding defense spending and a six-month review of the American military footprint in Europe initiated by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Francken also called for a single market for the European economy and criticized protectionist exemptions for domestic arms manufacturers, acknowledging that Belgium has utilized such loopholes.