Belgian PM discusses defence and tariffs with US secretary of state
Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever met US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Brussels on Friday morning. The two discussed, among other things, defence and the high trade tariffs announced by US president Donald Trump.
Rubio arrived in Brussels on Wednesday to meet with other NATO foreign ministers. While in Belgium, the US official also requested a meeting with De Wever, which took place at the prime minister's office in Brussels on Friday morning.
According to De Wever's cabinet, topics discussed during the meeting included defence spending, geopolitical challenges and the international fight against drug trafficking. But the two also discussed the new US import tariffs.
The tariffs announced by US president Donald Trump on Wednesday night include a 20 per cent tariff on the EU. De Wever said on Thursday that he wanted to make it clear to Rubio that the Trump administration was "not exactly building a great reputation in Europe".
Importance of dialogue
De Wever's meeting with Rubio underlines the importance of an ongoing transatlantic dialogue, he said. "We see in this face-to-face meeting a clear confirmation of the commitment of our US allies to continue and, where possible, to strengthen cooperation in the future."
"I also expressed our country’s hope that the unfortunate trade dispute between the US and Europe may soon end," De Wever wrote on X after the meeting. "Let us maintain and strengthen the Transatlantic partnership and free trade relations which have kept the Western world secure and prosperous throughout recent history."
Rubio was in Belgium for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers to discuss European defence spending, the war in Ukraine and China. The US secretary of state leaves the country on Friday.
© BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM / BELGA VIDEO JEROME FETU
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