bel RTL - 7H40 Martin Buxant · RTL Podcasts

L'invité de 7h50 - Théo Francken (Ministre de la Défense)

·11 min·1 clip

Minister Théo Francken reveals whether Belgium is prepared to send men to the front if NATO activates Article 5 against Iran.

In this interview on bel RTL - 7H40, host Martin Buxant engages with Belgian Minister of Defense Théo Francken. The conversation begins with a direct question about Belgium's readiness to send troops if NATO invokes Article 5 against Iran, to which Francken affirms solidarity but notes no current demand. He then confirms that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have requested military aid from Belgium for defensive purposes, with discussions ongoing in the government. Francken shares his opinion that a conflict in Iran would likely be short and involve aerial bombardments rather than ground forces. He links a recent explosion at a synagogue in Liège to possible sleeper cells activated by the Iranian regime, highlighting security concerns. The minister advocates for deploying military personnel on Belgian streets to protect sensitive sites, criticizing internal government disputes that couple this with prison overcrowding issues. Francken discusses his support for Belgium's defense industry, mentioning visits to entrepreneurs in Liège and Charleroi and praising FN Herstal as a state-owned Walloon company. He defends an arms exhibition in Brussels, arguing it is important for economic and societal returns. The interview touches on France's nuclear umbrella proposal, which Francken declines to comment on, and his continued support for transatlantic alliances despite differences with the U.S. agenda. Throughout, Francken emphasizes the need for European defense collaboration and addresses criticisms from anti-militarists.

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