Belgium Acknowledges the US as an Unreliable Ally Under Trump in a Secret Document: What the Foreign Ministry Recommends

The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared an internal strategic document that explicitly states that under President Donald Trump, the United States is no longer a reliable ally for Brussels. This is reported by the Financial Times, citing materials obtained from Belgian diplomatic circles. The document was developed by the Americas and Caribbean Basin division at the end of 2025 and, according to available information, was distributed to the department's staff as a guideline for further work with Washington.

The "Calibration" Strategy: How Belgium Intends to Protect Its Interests

The central element of the document is the so-called "calibration" strategy for engagement with Washington. According to the text, the goal of this strategy is to protect Belgium's national and European interests while simultaneously avoiding the formation of a "hostile" state reputation in the eyes of the American administration. The document contains a call for a "thorough reassessment of the relationship between the European Union and Belgium on the one hand and the United States on the other." The authors note that the dynamics observed in the United States may put a number of critically important interests at risk, both for Belgium itself and for the EU as a whole.

Channels of Influence: From the Democratic Opposition to Mayors of Cities

Despite the critical assessment of the current administration, the Belgian Foreign Ministry emphasizes that engaging with the US is necessary. The document recommends establishing direct contacts not only with the federal government, but also with the leadership of Republican and Democratic states, as well as with the mayors of major American cities. A separate task is highlighted: to continue negotiations with the democratic opposition, to build ties with the US Congress, and to "identify new generations of bipartisan elites who could play a significant role in a future America." This approach indicates Brussels's attempt to diversify channels of diplomatic influence, rather than relying exclusively on the White House.

The Military Vector: American Weapons and the European Alternative

In the section devoted to defense policy, the authors of the document note that the Trump administration views European countries' purchases of American weapons positively. However, the Belgian Foreign Ministry recommends simultaneously increasing acquisitions of European military equipment. In this way, Brussels seeks to maintain a balance: not provoking Washington by refusing American supplies, while at the same time strengthening its own defense autonomy within the EU.

Official Position: "Internal Working Material"

A representative of the Belgian Foreign Ministry, commenting on the FT's publication, stated that the document in question is "internal working material" and that its content "should be distinguished from the officially approved political strategy." This statement effectively limits the document's legal and political force: formally, it is neither a foreign policy doctrine nor a position elevated to the level of the government or parliament. Nevertheless, the very fact of its preparation and distribution among diplomatic staff indicates that a consistent view of the risks associated with Washington's current policy has formed within the department.

Contradictory Data

At the same time, the question of the document's status arises. On the one hand, the Financial Times and a number of Ukrainian and international media outlets present the text as a reflection of the Belgian Foreign Ministry's actual position, using phrasings such as "acknowledged" and "warned staff." On the other hand, the department's official representative insists that this is merely "working material," not identical to an approved strategy. The difference between these two interpretations is significant: in the first case, the document becomes an indicator of a shift in foreign policy course, while in the second it is an internal analytical exercise with no binding force. At the time of publication of this article, independent verification of the full text of the document has not been conducted, and both sides — the media and the Belgian Foreign Ministry — are operating with partial quotes.

Broad Context: Erosion of Trust in the US in Europe

The Belgian Foreign Ministry's document is not an isolated case. As early as February 2026, as reported by the outlet XAB.info, according to a sociological survey, the share of citizens in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada who do not consider the US a reliable ally and who doubt that the United States defends democracy or shares European values is growing. In parallel, in August 2026, the Belgian Foreign Ministry summoned the US ambassador over a sarcastic remark by an American diplomat on social media, which further illustrates the growing friction in bilateral relations. The combination of these factors indicates that the "calibration" mentioned in the Belgian document reflects a broader trend of reassessing transatlantic relations in Europe.