Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said Europe still needs US military support for at least another five to 10 years before it can defend the continent on its own.
He stressed that good relations with US President Donald Trump must be maintained for the sake of Europe's security.
According to Francken, although Trump often criticizes European allies, there are limits that should not be crossed.
He described Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as one of the most influential leaders among European conservatives and believes that relations between Trump and Meloni should not continue to be tense.
The statement was made after Trump criticized Meloni on social media following their meeting at the G7 Summit. The incident added to the strained relationship between the two leaders despite their seemingly similar political stances.
Francken also admitted that the European Union (EU) does not yet have sufficient military capabilities to replace the role of the United States. He said Europe needs up to a decade to develop comparable conventional defense forces.
At the same time, Trump continues to pressure NATO members to increase defense spending. The US administration is also reviewing its military deployment in Europe, raising concerns about Washington's commitment to the region's security.
Pressure from the US and the growing threat from Russia are prompting European countries to accelerate efforts to strengthen their defense industries.
The European Commission is currently preparing proposals to facilitate cross-border acquisition of defense assets and reduce protectionism against local companies.
In a related development, Belgium is expected to fail to meet NATO's new target for increasing defense spending.
Based on current projections, the country is only expected to spend 1.93% of GDP by 2029, far from the target of 3.5% by 2035. The situation has the potential to invite continued criticism from the Trump administration towards its European allies.
