ANTWERP — Kristi Noem, the U.S. homeland security chief, visited the port of Antwerp on Wednesday to reaffirm America’s commitment to assisting Belgium in dismantling drug trafficking networks that have contributed to increasing violence in the country.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has advocated for robust international measures to combat drug cartels, including a highly criticized military strike against a Venezuelan vessel suspected of narcotics trafficking. Shortly after his inauguration, he designated these organizations as foreign terrorist entities.
“Ports here, like this one, are a crime target for foreign terrorist organizations,” Noem stated during a press conference following her discussions with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. “The U.S. understands that we need to be aggressive in fighting these organizations and we want to partner with you in an even greater way to do so into the future.”
The port of Antwerp stands as a crucial conduit for illicit drug shipments into Europe, prompting Noem and De Wever to explore enhanced cooperation between the two nations in addressing narcotics trafficking challenges.
Noem, a steadfast supporter of President Trump, indicated that the collaborative efforts would involve sharing critical data and security intelligence, as well as addressing issues related to shipping companies involved in drug transportation.
De Wever revealed in pre-meeting comments that the request for this high-level dialogue came from the U.S., which he interprets as recognition of his extensive efforts in global advocacy against drug trafficking. He emphasized the need for Europe to enhance both regional cooperation and collaboration with the U.S. to effectively dismantle the operational frameworks of organized crime.
“I think Europe should focus a lot more on European cooperation on one hand, and on cooperation with our friends in the United States in order to crush the business model of organized crime. We must do this because drug criminals know no borders at all,” remarked De Wever, who previously served as the mayor of Antwerp for over a decade.
Both nations continue to grapple with severe drug trafficking issues and the associated violence. Antwerp, recently surpassing Rotterdam in container throughput, has experienced a dramatic rise in drug-related incidents, including shootings and explosions.
In 2023, Belgian authorities reported seizing a record 121 metric tons of cocaine at the port, highlighting the scale of the problem. The capital city, Brussels, is also reeling from drug-related violence, recording approximately 60 shootings just this year. In response, the government is considering deploying military personnel to the streets by the year’s end to deter criminal activity.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the fentanyl crisis continues to escalate, with this synthetic opioid estimated to be 50 times more potent than heroin. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken has cautioned that Europe could soon confront similar challenges.
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that nearly 80,000 individuals succumbed to drug overdoses in 2024, a notable decline from the previous year’s staggering toll of 110,000 deaths.
“There’s a plague of fentanyl traffic that is spreading around the world,” Noem asserted, emphasizing the necessity for collaborative efforts to combat this issue, stating, “we need to stop it and work together so that we have the ability to use our experience in America to help Europe.”
After the press conference, Noem changed out of her high heels to enter a shipping container for a firsthand look at Belgium’s new drug detection technology, followed by a helicopter tour of the port with De Wever.