BRUSSELS: The Trump-Meloni dispute over tensions drew a warning from Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken, who urged the US president not to escalate his row with Italy’s prime minister.
Francken told POLITICO that Europe still needs U.S. military support to defend the continent for another decade.
He said European leaders should avoid alienating Washington because of that reliance on defence.
Francken also said allies had limits on what they should tolerate, citing Trump’s recent remarks about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“Of course, we need him as an ally, but don’t touch Meloni,” Francken said. He described Meloni as the “queen of centre-right in Europe” and urged Trump to leave her alone.
The dispute followed a June G7 summit meeting in Évian-les-Bains, France, where Trump claimed Meloni had “begged” him to take a photograph with her. Meloni denied the allegation.
Read: Trump Meloni Photo Row Sparks Italy Backlash
Trump later posted a photo of Meloni on social media and joked that he would need a restraining order to keep her away from him.
Francken said he was surprised the disagreement had escalated over what he called a picture dispute.
