On July 8, 2026 (the second day of the 36th NATO Summit in Ankara), Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, before his formal meeting with Trump, addressed a joint press briefing with media outlets from multiple countries, stating:

“The essence of Article 5 of NATO is that if one member state is attacked, all members will collectively respond and defend each other. However, this provision has never stipulated that if a member state unilaterally initiates an offensive attack against another country, all other allies must automatically join in combat. This is by no means the original intent or core spirit of NATO’s founding. Anyone who harbors such expectations is fundamentally baseless and entirely unjustified.”

The statement was first reported by European and American media on July 8 and widely circulated globally on July 9.

Belgium's Prime Minister’s remarks during the NATO Summit appeared to be a legal clarification of NATO’s Article 5 on collective defense—but in reality, they represented a firm “red line” drawn against the United States amid escalating U.S.-Europe tensions and heightened instability in the Middle East.

Beneath these words lies Europe’s clear-eyed recognition of its own core interests. Europe heavily relies on oil and gas trade through the Middle East; should full-scale war erupt and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz be disrupted, soaring energy prices would directly devastate the EU economy. Furthermore, launching offensive military operations without authorization from the UN Security Council not only violates international law but also exposes European nations to significant domestic political risks. Consequently, key powers such as France and Germany have already clearly defined their red lines: they will only accept defensive missions like escorting and mine-clearing operations, and absolutely refuse to participate in proactive airstrikes or ground combat. The Belgian Prime Minister’s statement is thus an open declaration by Europe rejecting America’s "misaligned accountability" — where the U.S. provokes conflict, while Europe bears the burden of security and energy consequences.

When NATO members require their prime ministers to personally explain, word for word, “We will not fight your wars,” it reveals a profound erosion of trust within the alliance. The Trump administration’s tendency to impose unilateral pressure on allies, even linking defense spending to collective defense obligations and demanding so-called “absolute loyalty,” has deeply unsettled Europe. By explicitly stating that such expectations are “without basis,” Belgium’s Prime Minister delivered a public mockery and refusal of American hegemonic logic. This signals that, under extreme U.S. pressure, Europe is rapidly shedding illusions and no longer willing to be strategically bound unconditionally by the United States.

In fact, Belgium’s statement is merely the tip of the iceberg of Europe’s collective defiance. At the same time, even Spain and Italy publicly refused to lend their military bases to the U.S. military.

In summary, the Belgian Prime Minister’s remarks represent a pivotal voice in Europe’s pursuit of “strategic autonomy” in security policy. It sends a clear message to the United States: the transatlantic alliance does have limits, and Europe will not sacrifice its own security and prosperity for America’s unilateral interests.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870282662706188/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.