Belgium Threatens to Wipe Moscow Off the Map

Darwin, 28 October-

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has issued a direct warning to Russia, saying that any missile attack on Brussels would trigger a strong NATO response — one that could “wipe Moscow off the map.”

According to a report by TRT World published on Tuesday, Francken made the remarks in an interview with the newspaper De Morgen on Monday.
He said,

“If Putin (the Russian president) fires a missile toward Brussels, we will wipe Moscow off the map.”

Francken emphasized the importance of NATO’s “collective defense commitment.”

Dismissing doubts in Europe about the United States’ commitment to NATO, he said,

“The anti-American bias in Europe is unbelievable… He (the U.S. president) has literally said that America will continue to support its NATO allies one hundred percent.
A cruise missile on Brussels? That would receive an automatic response — a no-brainer, whatever term you use. Putin won’t dare do it.”

However, Francken also warned against underestimating Russia’s military capabilities.

He noted,

“The Russians have increased their capabilities. Their war economy produces four times more ammunition than all NATO countries combined. Europe doesn’t even have a central command.”

Francken further said,

“In Ukraine, Russia is essentially fighting against the entire West. The Ukrainians are fighting with our weapons, ammunition, and money — otherwise, they would have been defeated long ago.”

Discussing future challenges, the Belgian defense minister suggested that China wants to prolong the war, saying,

“Because it weakens the West. They are buying huge amounts of Russian raw materials, supplying weapons, and are perfectly fine with Putin deploying North Korean troops.”

Francken also expressed confidence that a large-scale Russian attack on the Baltic states is unlikely, since those countries are NATO members.
He added,

“Soon, we will have 600 F-35 fighter jets in Europe. The Russians fear them — because they can’t see them on radar.”