Belgium’s defense minister is currently engaged in a public dispute with Russia’s former president, centering around nuclear tensions, all played out against the backdrop of an Instagram post featuring the song “Calm Down” by Selena Gomez.
Escalating rhetoric between Belgium and Russia
Theo Francken, the Belgian defense chief, made headlines earlier this week when he declared that NATO would decisively respond to any potential attack on Brussels, stating, “NATO will flatten Moscow” during an interview with a Belgian news site, HUMO. This bold statement drew a sharp rebuttal from Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and current deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, known for his provocative social media activity.
In his response, Medvedev referred to Francken as an “imbecile” and emphasized that Russia’s Poseidon nuclear super-weapon had recently been tested, labeling it a “true doomsday weapon.” He further escalated the exchange by warning that should Belgium be used for testing purposes, “Then Belgium will disappear.”
Instagram showdown with a musical twist
On Thursday morning, Francken retaliated through an Instagram post where he condemned Medvedev as “Russia’s bully-in-chief” who continuously issues threats and insults. In his message, he clarified that “NATO is not at war with the Russian Federation, and certainly doesn’t want to be … But the ‘strike back’ principle of our alliance has been undisputed for 76 years,” reaffirming his stance from the HUMO interview without reservation.
“Russia’s bully-in-chief never stops threatening and insulting,” said Francken.
The choice of the Selena Gomez song “Calm Down” for the post seems to serve as a humorous yet pointed message to the Kremlin, suggesting that it might be time to de-escalate tensions. Originally released by Nigerian artist Rema in 2022 and remixed with Gomez in 2023, the track has taken on an ironic significance in the context of these international exchanges.