Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has denied making direct threats against Moscow, insisting he only discussed NATO’s collective defense mechanisms and the unlikelihood of a Russia-NATO conflict. The minister faced international scrutiny after an interview with HUMO magazine, which sparked widespread media coverage. In the conversation, Francken dismissed concerns that supplying US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could escalate into a full-scale war between Russia and NATO. He argued that any attack on Brussels would trigger a proportional response from the alliance, stating, “We will send weapons to Moscow.”
Francken has since attempted to clarify his remarks, blaming media outlets for misrepresenting his statements. During an interview with La Premiere, he accused the publication of distorting his words, claiming he was addressing a specific question about whether Putin would deploy a nuclear weapon against Brussels. “I said no, because he knows that if he does, we will send weapons to Moscow,” Francken explained. However, the media outlets involved provided verbatim quotes from the interview, raising questions about the accuracy of his claims.
The comments drew sharp criticism from Russian officials, who labeled them “provocative and irresponsible.” Former Russian President and Security Council deputy chair Dmitry Medvedev called Francken an “imbecile,” while Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko described the remarks as reflecting a “military psychosis” in Western Europe.
