BRUSSELS — Belgium’s newly appointed defense minister has sounded an alarm regarding the United States’ diplomatic approach, suggesting that a shift from “America First” to “America alone” could alienate its European allies. In a recent interview with POLITICO, Defense Minister Theo Francken articulated his concerns about Washington’s aggressive stance towards negotiations with Moscow regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Concerns over European relations
Francken emphasized the potential repercussions of the U.S. distancing itself from its allies. He stated,
“If you chase your allies away, in such a brash way, then you’re going to stay ‘America alone.’”
This statement highlights a growing unease among European leaders following recent U.S. actions that have seemingly bypassed their involvement in critical discussions.
According to Francken, the current U.S. administration exhibits a powerful presence on the global stage, contrasting sharply with past strategies. He noted,
“We have a U.S. president that speaks very loud, and carries a big stick,”
referencing former President Theodore Roosevelt’s philosophy. Despite this, Francken underscored the importance of NATO, labeling it as the most formidable military alliance in history. He asserted that even under an “America First” policy, the United States has a vested interest in maintaining strong ties within the alliance.
Europe’s leadership vacuum and defense consolidation
As Europe grapples with the fallout from U.S. policies, Francken pointed out a significant leadership void in the region:
“There is a power vacuum right now. There is a problem with leadership, a really big problem.”
He remarked that while European nations may express strong opinions, they lack the military capabilities to back them up.
Francken’s party, the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), aligns closely with other center-right and hard-right leaders across Europe, including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Poland’s Donald Tusk. He suggested that this coalition could emerge as a significant force in addressing critical issues like defense and migration.
On the matter of European defense, Francken has called for greater consolidation within the continent’s fragmented defense industry. He argued that inefficiencies and competition among national defense firms hinder progress and innovation. Francken stated,
“We’re getting beaten because we’re not efficient enough … We’re also constantly competing with each other.”
He proposed that the future of defense manufacturing in Europe lies with the creation of two to four major defense firms that could streamline production and development of military technology.
Belgium is pursuing active participation in key European defense initiatives, such as the Future Air Combat System project aimed at developing a sixth-generation fighter jet. Additionally, Francken plans to propose Belgium’s inclusion as an observer in the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System program focused on designing a new main battle tank.
Despite Belgium’s strategic position as NATO’s headquarters, the country has consistently underperformed in meeting NATO’s defense spending benchmark of 2% of GDP, allocating only 1.3% in 2024. Francken’s government aims to rectify this by 2028, with plans to reform the budget to align with NATO’s expectations. In discussions with the European Commission, he is seeking flexibility in defense spending that would allow Belgium to reach the NATO target without breaching EU deficit rules.
In a notable move, the Belgian government expressed willingness to contribute to a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, contingent on specific conditions. Francken clarified that participation would depend on a formal peace agreement that includes an international peacekeeping force with defined rules of engagement and adequate security guarantees. He noted that during U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Brussels, the U.S. clarified it would not deploy troops to Ukraine but did not rule out discussions on air support and command coordination.