Belgian minister defends Meloni amid Trump dispute
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has publicly defended Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after US President Donald Trump joked about needing a restraining order against her, while simultaneously urging European leaders to maintain diplomatic ties with Washington due to continued military dependence.
Speaking to POLITICO, Francken emphasised that Europe cannot risk alienating the United States as it works to build its own independent security framework, estimating that the continent will rely on American military protection for another five to ten years.
Francken calls Meloni 'queen of centre-right'
While calling for strategic patience, Francken strongly defended Meloni, stating: "Of course we need him as an ally, but don't touch Meloni. She's the queen of centre-right in Europe. She's the alpha. Leave her alone."
The controversy began when Trump shared a photo of Meloni on social media, joking that he would require a protective order against her. The tension traces back to an awkward encounter at the G7 summit in Evian, France, where Trump claimed Meloni pleaded for a photo opportunity—an allegation she flatly denied.
Francken expressed astonishment at the public spat, questioning: "I love her, she's conservative, she is totally on the same line... and then you're going to have a fight over what? A picture!"
Europe's strategic vulnerabilities highlighted
Francken noted that Europe is still deeply dependent on the US to secure its borders, estimating it would take five to ten years to build conventional military capabilities that Washington currently provides. He advised: "We need the Americans, be diplomatic, listen to what they say, try to be gentle."
This warning comes as Trump maintains pressure on NATO allies regarding financial contributions, alongside a reassessment of the American military presence in Europe. Last week, Trump criticised alliance members for falling short on defence expenditure, while US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth initiated a six-month review of America's military footprint across Europe.
Facing a rising threat from Russia and relentless pressure from Washington, European administrations have begun scaling up defence budgets and reinforcing the regional defence industry.
Francken calls for single market, criticises protectionism
Supporting deeper continental integration, Francken expressed his vision: "I want to see a single market on everything." He also criticised legal exemptions that allow European governments to give preferential treatment to domestic arms manufacturers, describing the mechanism as "totally protectionist."
Francken maintained that Belgium uses such loopholes only under exceptional conditions, though records indicate Brussels invoked an exemption in 2023 to grant a light-arms contract to Belgian manufacturer FN Herstal without competitive bidding.
Belgium's defence spending under scrutiny
Belgium's domestic defence allocations face intense scrutiny. Official government data suggests the country hovers slightly above NATO's previous baseline of 2% of GDP on defence. However, a monitoring report published Monday revealed that Belgium's current fiscal trajectory will only reach 1.93% by 2029, falling drastically short of NATO's upgraded target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035, leaving Brussels exposed to renewed criticism from Washington.
