US ambassador reprimanded after attacking Belgian minister

A dispute over alcohol advertising has brought a public reprimand for the US ambassador to Belgium and a warning about the state of bilateral relations.

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Belgium’s sovereignty must be fully respected

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot summoned Ambassador Bill White after White posted an AI-generated image of Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke on social media. White called the minister Belgium’s “biggest loser” and accused him of destroying “every form of joy in life.”

The post concerned a planned requirement for alcohol advertisements to carry warnings about the product’s harmful effects. Prévot told White to stop making personal public attacks on Belgian politicians and said, “Belgium’s sovereignty must be fully respected.”

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counterproductive

The meeting lasted about 90 minutes. Prévot warned that further provocations would be “counterproductive” and could cause “unnecessary escalation” in relations between Belgium and the United States.

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unnecessary escalation

White described the conversation as “very frank.” He initially said he would continue publishing his opinions, but later stated in writing that he had agreed not to post insulting remarks about Belgian politicians. He said he would first raise any concerns directly with the Belgian authorities. It was the second time this year that Belgium’s foreign minister summoned the US ambassador.

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very frank