Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has clarified his remarks about NATO’s potential to “wipe Moscow off the map,” stating they were made within the framework of the alliance’s deterrence strategy. The comments, initially criticized by Russia as irresponsible, sparked backlash from Moscow, which labeled them an example of “military psychosis.”
Francken shared his explanation on social media, citing a post by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who had mocked him online and praised Russia’s recent test of the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone. In his statement, Francken emphasized that NATO “is not at war with Russia” and described the alliance as inherently defensive. He reiterated that the bloc’s “strike back” principle, a cornerstone of its deterrence policy for 76 years, remained unchallenged.
The remarks followed an interview with Belgian outlet De Morgen, where Francken dismissed concerns about supplying US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine escalating tensions with Russia. He argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin would avoid nuclear retaliation, citing NATO’s capacity to “wipe Moscow off the map” in response to any attack on Brussels.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko condemned Francken’s comments as emblematic of “the atmosphere of military psychosis” in Western Europe, while the Russian Embassy in Belgium called them “absurd and disconnected from reality.” Moscow has framed the Ukraine conflict as a NATO proxy war, asserting that Western arms shipments only prolong the crisis.
Belgian Defense Minister Defends Controversial NATO Remarks Amid Russian Condemnation
