Belgian defense minister urges Trump to stop targeting PM Giorgia Meloni

Belgian Defense Minister Urges Trump to Stop Targeting PM Giorgia Meloni

Belgium's defense leadership has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to cease targeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni following a social media exchange in which the U.S. Leader joked about the need for a restraining order against her. The intervention comes amid a broader climate of tension between Washington and its European allies over defense spending, leadership vacuums, and the military footprint in Europe.

The dispute follows a social media post on Sunday where Trump shared a photograph of Meloni and joked about a restraining order. The friction appears to stem from an encounter at the G7 summit in Evian, France, in June, where Trump claimed Meloni had begged him for a photograph, a claim the Italian prime minister denied.

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken defended the Italian leader, identifying her as a key figure in the European conservative movement.

"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,"

Theo Francken, Belgian Defense Minister, via POLITICO

While some reports identify the official defending Meloni as Ludivine Dedonder, others attribute the queen remarks to Francken. The defense of Meloni is viewed by some analysts as a sign of European solidarity crossing party lines, as a Belgian minister defends a right-wing leader against the American president.

Military Dependence and the Power Vacuum

Despite the personal frictions, Francken warned that Europe cannot afford to alienate Washington. He stated that Europe remains heavily dependent on the United States for security and would require between five and 10 years to develop the conventional military capabilities currently provided by the U.S.

Francken described the current state of European leadership as a power vacuum and a really big problem, noting that while European leaders may speak loudly, they lack the stick possessed by the U.S. President. He cautioned that brash treatment of allies could move the U.S. From a policy of America First to America alone.

This diplomatic fragility coincides with a period of American review regarding its role in Europe. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced a six-month review of the U.S. Military footprint across the continent. During a visit to Brussels last week, Hegseth clarified that the U.S. Would not send soldiers to Ukraine, though Francken noted that issues such as air support and command and control remain possibilities.

Defense Spending and Industrial Reform

The tension is further exacerbated by disputes over defense spending. Trump has continued to pressure NATO allies to increase their budgets. Belgium's own spending remains a point of contention:

• In 2024, Belgium spent 1.3 per cent of GDP on its military.
• Official government figures place current spending slightly above the previous NATO target of 2 per cent.
• A monitoring report released on Monday suggests Belgium will reach only 1.93 per cent by 2029.
• This falls short of NATO's new target of 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035.

Francken is currently in talks with the European Commission to allow defense spending flexibility, seeking to reach the NATO threshold without violating EU rules that limit deficits to 3 per cent of GDP.

Beyond spending, Francken criticized the fragmentation of the European defense industry, calling the use of exemptions to favor domestic firms totally protectionist. He argued that the industry needs to consolidate into a few massive companies to compete efficiently. While Belgium used such an exemption in 2023 for a light-arms contract with FN Herstal, Francken believes the bloc should move toward a single market. He also noted Belgium's role as an observer in the Future Air Combat System and his intention to propose observer status for the Main Ground Combat System, a Franco-German tank program.

Future Outlook

European governments are now weighing their responses to U.S. Maneuvers, including recent American negotiations with Moscow regarding the war in Ukraine. Belgium has indicated it would contribute to an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine, provided there is a peace deal with clear security guarantees, air support, and rules of engagement.

The stability of the populist-right international axis—originally envisioned as a front including Trump, Meloni, and Viktor Orbán—remains uncertain as the personal dynamic between the U.S. President and the Italian prime minister appears to have curdled.