Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken Warns Trump To ‘Leave Queen Meloni Alone’
Francken just had a bad idea and acted on it.
In today’s NATO summit in Turkey, Belgium is one of the lowest-investing countries in the alliance – and now, its Defense Minister has gone on a limb against Donald J. Trump because of his social media spat with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken is aware that Europe needs the U.S. to defend the continent, and he thinks the alliance leaders should be careful not to alienate Trump.
Politico reported:
“Francken made clear there are limits — especially when it comes to Trump’s recent attacks on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
‘Of course we need him as an ally, but don’t touch Meloni. She’s the queen of center-right in Europe. She’s the alpha. Leave her alone’, the Flemish nationalist minister said.”
While the Trump-Meloni spat escalated on Sunday with the US President posting a photo of Meloni, joking that he ‘would need a restraining order’ against the Italian leader, all other alliance leaders where wise enough not to get into the fray.
But somehow, the Belgian minister felt it was wise to meddle.
“’I love her, she’s conservative, she is totally on the same line … and then you’re going to have a fight on what? On a picture!’ said Francken.”
It’s odd that this statement comes on the heels of his admission that the EU is ‘not close to being ready to defend itself without continued U.S. help’.
Francken thinks it’ll take Europe ‘five to 10 years’ to build up the capabilities provided by the US.
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