Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has voiced concern over growing strategic differences between the European Union and the United States regarding the war in Ukraine, calling for a stronger European defense posture.
Speaking ahead of the European Council summit in Brussels, De Wever stated that while Europe remains part of the conversation, the alignment with Washington has visibly shifted:
“We are not excluded from the negotiation table, but it’s clear we no longer share the same perspective on Ukraine. Europe must learn from this — we need to become strategically stronger,” he said.
The Belgian leader acknowledged that Europe still lacks the capacity to replace the American presence on the ground, making continued U.S. involvement indispensable.
“We hope to keep them on board as long as possible. But the pro-Ukraine stance is, unfortunately, more prominent in Europe now than it is in the U.S.,” he added.
NATO and Defense Spending
Reflecting on the recent NATO summit in The Hague, De Wever said Belgium supports the new agreement allowing greater flexibility in defense spending.
“We’re not thrilled about having to spend so much more, but we understand it’s necessary,” he noted.
His remarks come amid increasing concerns in Brussels over U.S. wavering commitment to Ukraine, especially in light of domestic political shifts in Washington and the return of Donald Trump to the global stage.
