Belgium braces for Trump 2.0: internal document reveals deep concerns over U.S. policy shift

An internal Belgian government document obtained by EUalive from an anonymous reader shows that Brussels is preparing for a significantly more difficult relationship with the United States under President Donald Trump’s second term.

The 27 October 2025 strategy paper, produced by the Belgian Foreign Ministry’s Americas and Caribbean service, outlines a comprehensive “Team Belgium” approach to manage economic, security and value-based risks while trying to keep Washington engaged.

The document, titled “États-Unis d’Amérique – Stratégie et mise en œuvre opérationnelle”, was prepared shortly after Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. It states that the new administration has “considerably complexified” transatlantic relations, describing the United States as moving away from a rules-based international order toward a transactional “America First” policy.

Migration and security concerns at the forefront

While the document covers economic protectionism, NATO spending demands and cultural clashes, migration and related security issues feature prominently among Belgium’s worries.

According to the paper, the Trump administration has made the fight against illegal immigration and drug trafficking its top domestic security priorities. It warns that this shift could create bilateral tensions, particularly around visa policy, data sharing and cooperation on organised crime.

Key migration-related concerns highlighted in the document include:

– The possible end of the Visa Waiver Program for Belgian citizens.

– Increased scrutiny and potential restrictions on student visas and academic exchanges.

– Risks linked to data protection (GDPR) in information sharing with US authorities.

– The possibility that Belgium could be stigmatised as a transit hub for synthetic drug precursors, especially fentanyl-related substances.

– Pressure to align Belgian definitions of terrorism more closely with American priorities, including the risk that shared intelligence could lead to death penalty cases in the US.

The document also notes concerns about the reduced capacity of the US consular section in Belgium and the potential loss of cooperation with agencies such as FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Broader strategic worries

Beyond migration, the Belgian analysis identifies several structural threats:

Economic risks: Heavy dependence on the US market, combined with expected new tariffs, “Buy American” policies and pressure on European companies regarding DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) compliance.

Defence dependence: Strong reliance on NATO and US security guarantees, alongside American demands that European allies spend 5% of GDP on defence.

Value divergence: The document speaks of a “cultural war” in the US, with attacks on mainstream media, universities and progressive values, and warns of growing ideological polarisation.

Multilateralism: Fears that the US will continue to disengage from international institutions and rules-based cooperation.

The paper notes that the Trump administration views the European Union as “weak and woke” and prefers bilateral dealings with strong leaders.

Belgium’s response: “Team Belgium”

To counter these challenges, the document proposes a coordinated “Team Belgium” strategy involving federal and regional ministers, trade promotion agencies and the diplomatic network. It calls for intensified outreach not only in Washington but also at state and local level across the United States, targeting both Republican and Democratic elites.

The strategy emphasises maintaining engagement with the current US administration while defending Belgian and European values. It stresses the need to diversify partnerships to avoid new dependencies, particularly in critical sectors such as energy, semiconductors, AI and defence.

A special transatlantic platform has been created within the Foreign Ministry to coordinate this effort, meeting in both internal and external formats.

A document that speaks volumes

The tone of the document is notably sober. It acknowledges that the United States remains Belgium’s most important non-EU trading partner and a key security ally, but warns that the relationship has become increasingly asymmetrical.

It explicitly asks difficult questions: Where should Belgium draw the line between cooperation and defending its values? How should it calibrate messages when opposing US positions? And how can it avoid falling into new dependencies while managing the relationship with both Washington and Beijing?

The emergence of this internal planning document suggests that, even among traditionally Atlanticist countries like Belgium, serious strategic rethinking is underway regarding the future of the transatlantic partnership under the current US administration.

At the recent NATO summit in Ankara, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever delivered a light-hearted but pointed remark that appeared to reference President Trump’s controversial intervention in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While discussing support for Ukraine, De Wever stated: “This is also a very strong ‘red card’ to Putin… You can’t just take back a red card. You know that.”

The comment, made in Trump’s presence, was widely interpreted as a subtle jab at the US president’s reported request to FIFA to review a red card given to American player Folarin Balogun before a match against Belgium. De Wever later joked that he would avoid bringing up Belgium’s victory first, noting that Trump “has the reputation of sometimes reacting a bit irritably to things that he doesn’t like.”

Belgium repairs FIFA’s injustice, thrashes host USA 4-1 to advance

EUalive has contacted the Belgian Foreign Ministry for comment. A spokesperson downplayed the importance of the document, by saying it was only a draft internal paper.

Caption: Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever attends a show at Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels, Belgium, 28 June 2026, ahead of a reception marking the 250th anniversary of US independence. The United States Embassy in Belgium has described the invitation-only event as the largest American Independence celebration outside the United States this year, with more than 5,000 invited guests expected, while activists and some local residents have criticized the celebration over its environmental impact, the privatization of public space and the ambassador’s close political ties to US President Donald Trump. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET