Europe's Defense "Weakness" Relies on U.S., Says Belgian Minister

A senior Belgian politician has publicly blamed years of budget cuts for Europe's military dependence on the United States. Theo Francken, Belgium's State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, made the sharp criticism in a recent interview. "Why are we so weak?" he asked. "Because we have completely cut our defense budget." His comments highlight a long-standing concern among NATO allies. Many European nations have reduced military spending since the end of the Cold War. This has created a capability gap. European forces now often rely on American logistics, intelligence, and air power during major operations. Francken, a member of the Flemish nationalist party N-VA, did not name specific countries. His remarks, however, come amid ongoing pressure for European NATO members to increase defense spending to the alliance's target of 2% of national economic output. The statement reflects growing debate in Europe. Leaders are reconsidering defense needs following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.