BRUSSELS

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Thursday called for greater strategic strength in Europe, citing growing differences with the US over support for Ukraine.

Speaking ahead of the European Council summit in Brussels, De Wever said while Europe is not excluded from discussions, there is a clear divergence in views.

"We are not excluded from the table, but it is clear that we do not have the same point of view anymore on Ukraine and I think Europe has to learn the lesson from it, that it has to strategically become stronger," he said.

De Wever warned that Europe still lacks the capacity to replace the US presence on the ground, making continued American engagement crucial.

"We hope to keep them aboard as much as possible. But it is clear that the pro-Ukraine stance is more outspoken in Europe than in the United States, unfortunately," he added.

Commenting on the outcome of the recent NATO summit in the Hague, De Wever said Belgium was satisfied with the agreement to allow more flexibility in defense spending.

He noted that Belgium’s requests, including more time, no fixed path of incremental increases, and a review in 2029 were accepted. "We're not so happy that we have to spend so much more, but we understand it is necessary."