Belgian Defense Chief Seeks to Clarify Threat to “Wipe Moscow Off the Map”
Brussels claims remarks were ‘deterrence doctrine’ as Moscow denounces Western nuclear hysteria
Belgia, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken attempted on Thursday to soften his provocative statement that NATO could “wipe Moscow off the map,” insisting that the comments were meant within the framework of the bloc’s “deterrence” strategy — despite widespread outrage and stern reaction from Russia.
Francken posted the clarification on social media, citing NATO’s so-called defensive nature and claiming the alliance has “no desire” for war with Russia.
He repeated that NATO’s retaliation doctrine has been “undisputed for 76 years,” asserting that his remarks did not deviate from long-standing policy.
“I don’t take back a single word,” Francken wrote, even while trying to contextualize the statement.
Remarks Expose Escalating Western Nuclear Brinkmanship
The clarification followed Francken’s interview with Belgian outlet De Morgen, where he dismissed concerns that transferring US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could escalate into a direct Russia-NATO confrontation.
In that interview, he claimed President Vladimir Putin would avoid nuclear escalation because NATO could “wipe Moscow off the map,” adding that any strike on Brussels would result in Moscow being “flattened.”
His comments ignited sharp criticism, revealing once again the dangerous nuclear brinkmanship emerging within NATO capitals.
Moscow: “Atmosphere of Military Psychosis in the West”
Russian officials condemned the rhetoric as yet another sign of Western aggression and detachment from reality.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko said Francken’s statements reflect “the atmosphere of military psychosis” prevailing across Western Europe.
The Russian Embassy in Belgium similarly dismissed the remarks as “absurd and disconnected from reality.”
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev responded online, highlighting Russia’s successful advancements in strategic deterrence, including the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone.
NATO Posture Fuels Conflict, Moscow Says
Moscow has consistently warned that NATO’s militarization and weapons shipments to Ukraine constitute participation in a proxy war against Russia.
Russian officials argue that Western governments are deliberately heightening escalatory rhetoric, prolonging the conflict, and endangering global stability rather than seeking diplomatic solutions.
Francken’s attempt to “clarify” his nuclear threat has only underscored growing instability in Western policymaking, raising serious questions about NATO’s leadership, restraint, and the bloc’s willingness to risk catastrophic escalation. (PW)