Belgium and US reaffirm support for Ukraine in first diplomatic exchange
Belgian Foreign minister Bernard Quintin held his first conversation with US secretary of state Marco Rubio late on Wednesday night. The discussion, described as "very friendly between two long-standing allies", reaffirmed that Belgium and the US are aligned on the need to support Ukraine.
Earlier this week, European Union member states agreed to extend sanctions against Russia. "We must continue to pressure Moscow," said Quintin. However, uncertainty remains over how US support for Kyiv will evolve under president Donald Trump’s administration.
Rubio and Quintin also addressed the ongoing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Both Belgium and the US are urging restraint to prevent further escalation. Rubio said he had conveyed this message directly in talks with Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan president Paul Kagame.
Historic ties
Quintin emphasised the "importance of historic ties" between Belgium and the US and extended an invitation for Rubio to visit Brussels during his next trip.
In a press release, Rubio’s spokesperson said the discussion had also covered defence spending. Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO members, including Belgium, for failing to meet the 2 per cent GDP target. Belgian federal negotiators aim to reach this benchmark by 2029, while NATO secretary general Mark Rutte has advocated for increasing the target to 3.5 per cent.
A man and woman at the observation platform at the Arch of Freedom of the Ukrainian People, Kyiv, 24 January 2025 © PHOTO EUGEN KOTENKO / UKRINFORM / AVALON
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