Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish socialist Vooruit) no longer considers the United States a Belgian ally. Speaking on VRT TV he referred to American threats in relation to Ukraine and medicines and also believes that we are far too dependent on the US for defence and energy supplies. Frank Vandenbroucke has been involved in Belgian national politics for some 40 years and has seen many changes. ‘Unfortunately, we no longer live in a world where international agreements are made,’ he observes. ‘What we are seeing, particularly in the United States, China and Russia, is that we are moving towards a world where brute force counts.’
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Deputy Prime Minister Frank Vandenbroucke no longer considers the US an ally
Colin Clapson
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That is bad news for Europe, he believes, not least because the US is no longer on our side. ‘I don't see that anymore. I think the US has taken a very unstable course with regard to Ukraine. Today, in practice, it is only Europe that is still providing financial support to Ukraine and ensuring that Ukraine can continue to arm itself.’
In addition to being Deputy Prime Minister, Vandenbroucke is also Belgian health and social affairs minister. He is most critical of the US's stance on medicines and healthcare. ‘That is a direct threat to the essence of our healthcare system,’ he says. ‘They are threatening trade measures if we don't do what they want. These are not the actions of an ally, but of an adversary. ‘
Less dependence needed
A strong Europe must be the message, he believes. ‘We are happy to be in NATO and happy to work together in NATO, but at the same time we are far too dependent on the Americans. We need to have our own strong defence.’
Vandenbroucke also believes that we have become far too dependent on the Americans for our energy supply. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have switched from Russian gas to liquefied gas from the United States. ‘We have to get away from that,’ he says.