Belgian minister defends Italian PM Meloni against Donald Trump remarks

Diplomatic tensions between the United States and Italy have intensified following a social media post in which United States President Donald Trump joked that he required a restraining order against Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The comment surfaced on the platform Truth Social, further straining the relationship between two leaders who were once viewed as primary ideological allies within a broader populist-right movement.

The remark followed a documented history of friction between the two, most notably an encounter during the G7 summit held in Evian, France, in June. During that event, Trump publicly claimed that the Italian prime minister had begged for a photograph, an assertion that Meloni has denied.

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The episode has drawn sharp criticism from within the European political establishment, most notably from Theo Francken, the Belgian Defence Minister. While Francken acknowledged Europe’s ongoing reliance on American military support—estimating that the continent will require five to 10 years to develop independent conventional capabilities—he publicly urged the US President to cease his targeting of the Italian leader. 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, Francken stated.

Francken, a member of the New Flemish Alliance, also warned that the United States risks transitioning from an America First policy to one of America alone if it continues to antagonize its European partners. He cited recent instances where Washington bypassed European leaders to initiate negotiations with Moscow regarding the conflict in Ukraine as evidence of a concerning lack of diplomatic coordination. According to Francken, this behavior exacerbates a perceived power vacuum within Europe. There is a power vacuum right now. There is a problem with leadership, a really big problem, he noted.

The situation complicates broader security efforts as the United States reviews its military footprint in Europe. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced a six-month review of the American military presence across the continent. Meanwhile, Belgium faces scrutiny regarding its own military commitments. Although official government figures place the country slightly above the previous target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence, a monitoring report released on Monday found Belgium would reach only 1.93 per cent by 2029 under current spending plans. That remains well below NATO's new target of 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035.

Francken stated that his government is in talks with the European Commission to allow for defense spending flexibility, including allowing it to reach the NATO threshold outside of EU rules that limit deficits to 3 percent of GDP. He also indicated a willingness to contribute to potential peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, provided that any such deployment includes clear rules of engagement and established security guarantees.

What to Watch Next

• NATO Summit: The upcoming gathering of alliance members is expected to serve as a venue to see if the bilateral tensions between the US and Italy, as well as the broader US-Europe friction, manifest in formal alliance disputes.
• Diplomatic Response: Whether Prime Minister Meloni issues a direct public response to the social media post or continues to manage the fallout privately to maintain the stability of Italy's international partnerships.
• Defence Spending Reforms: Potential adjustments in how European nations report and structure defence budgets, alongside ongoing talks between Brussels and the European Commission regarding budgetary flexibility.