Necva Tastan Sevinc
17 February 2026•Update: 17 February 2026
ISTANBUL
Belgium told the US ambassador to respect its institutions and sovereignty during talks Tuesday after his public criticism of an ongoing judicial investigation triggered a diplomatic dispute, the Foreign Ministry said.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the ministry said Ambassador Bill White had been reminded of the “role and limits” of diplomats and of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which sets out the duties and boundaries of envoys accredited to a host country.
“Personal attacks on a member of the Belgian government and any interference in Belgium’s internal affairs are contrary to these basic diplomatic rules,” it said.
White met with Theodora Gentzis, head of the Federal Foreign Affairs Department, at the request of Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, who is currently abroad, Belga news agency reported.
The ministry stressed the “fundamental importance” of the separation of powers in Belgium’s democracy, noting that the case at the center of the dispute, an investigation into religious circumcisions within Antwerp’s Jewish community, is being conducted by the judiciary independently of the government.
While reaffirming that Belgium attaches great importance to its relationship with the US, it said dialogue “must be based on respect for our institutions and our sovereignty.”
Separately, Belgium's Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke accused the US of waging an “ideological attack” on Europe’s social model, responding to criticism from President Donald Trump over Europe’s lower medicine prices and pharmaceutical spending.
Speaking in Paris, he said the EU should take a firmer stance when Washington threatens tariffs, adding: “The European Union is a protective shield against bilateral intimidation. We should make this much clearer to our citizens.”
The comments came a day after US Ambassador White sharply criticized the minister and accused Belgium of antisemitism over the prosecution of three Jewish ritual circumcisers in Antwerp. White described the case as “ABSOLUTELY an issue of antisemitism" through US social media company X.
He also said Vandenbroucke was “very rude” and claimed the minister disliked the US president. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot summoned White for a meeting, calling his remarks “unacceptable.”
“Any suggestion that Belgium is antisemitic is false, offensive, and unacceptable,” Prevot said, stressing that combating antisemitism and discrimination is a national priority.
Prevot warned that accusing Belgium of antisemitism amounted to “dangerous disinformation” and said an accredited ambassador must respect the country’s institutions and judicial independence.
“Personal attacks against a Belgian minister and interference in judicial matters violate basic diplomatic norms,” he said, adding that Belgium remains open to dialogue but that “respect for sovereignty works both ways.”
