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Theo Francken says Europe will still need US military support for the next 5–10 years, but criticizes Donald Trump's attacks on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni...
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has called on European leaders to maintain good relations with US President Donald Trump, stressing that Europe will continue to rely on the United States for the continent's defense for the next 5 to 10 years. However, he said there are limits, especially when it comes to Trump's attacks on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
In an interview with Politico, Francken declared: “Of course we need her as an ally, but don’t touch Meloni. She is the queen of the center-right in Europe. She is the dominant figure. Leave her alone.”
His comments come after Trump posted a photo of Meloni on social media on Sunday, joking that he would need a restraining order against her. The post followed an awkward meeting between the two leaders at the G7 summit in Evian, France, where Trump claimed Meloni had "begged" him for a photo, a claim the Italian prime minister has denied.
"I love her. She's conservative, shares the same views... and then fight over a photo?" Francken said.
The Belgian minister stressed that the European Union is not yet able to ensure the continent's defense on its own without American help. According to him, it will take Europe five to ten years to build the conventional military capabilities currently provided by the United States.
Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies for insufficient defense spending. Last week, he again chided member countries for low levels of military investment, while the US administration has also launched a six-month review of the US military presence in Europe.
According to Francken, the pressure exerted by Trump, combined with growing concerns about the threat posed by Russia, is pushing European countries to increase defense budgets and further develop their defense industry.
He supported the creation of a single European market in the defense sector as well and criticized the use of exemptions that allow states to favor domestic companies in military contracts.
"I want to see a single market for everything," he declared, calling the frequent use of these exemptions "completely protectionist."
Francken added that Belgium only uses these mechanisms in exceptional cases, recalling that the country had avoided a competitive procedure only once, two years ago, for an arms contract with Belgian manufacturer FN Herstal.
The Belgian minister reiterated that Europe must maintain constructive relations with Washington. "We need the Americans. We must be diplomatic, listen to what they say and behave with prudence," he said.
According to official data, Belgium claims to have exceeded NATO's previous target of 2% of GDP for defense spending. However, a monitoring report published on Monday estimates that, at the current pace of spending, the country will only reach 1.93% of GDP by 2029, far short of NATO's new target of 3.5% by 2035.
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