Washington DC (Brussels Morning) – Prime Minister De Croo and President Biden discussed Gaza, F-16s, and frozen Russian assets. De Croo visited Arlington Cemetery, honouring soldiers and the Battle of the Bulge. He emphasized the US-Belgium bond and Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and American President Joe Biden talked for an hour on Friday. Half an hour of that was about Gaza; Biden hopes that De Croo will help convince the Palestinians to sit at the table about the latest ceasefire proposal. They also discussed Belgium’s promise to send F-16s and the frozen Russian assets.
Why did De Croo visit Arlington Cemetery?
Earlier in the day, PM De Croo had visited the Arlington military cemetery. He laid wreaths at the grave of the unknown soldier and the monument that commemorates The Battle of the Bulge (the Battle of Bastogne in December 1944, ed.). Joined by hundreds of attendants, the Prime Minister initially partook in changing the guard at the Unknown Soldier’s tomb. He then laid a wreath representing the Belgian flag colours under a gleaming sun, jointly with the Belgian Ambassador.
What is the significance of the Battle of the Bulge?
The delegation also proceeded to the Ardennes Battle Memorial or the ‘Battle of the Bulge’ as known in the US. This was the biggest, bloodiest battle the US waged on European soil during the Second World War. In the six-week battle, 19,000 American soldiers were killed with almost 60,000 wounded. Around 400,000 individuals, primarily military personnel and vets, are buried in the 250-hectare Arlington National Cemetery. Relatives of military personnel also lay here, along with prominent figures such as presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft. The cemetery hosts 25 to 30 burials daily.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the Americans had liberated Europe twice from the German invaders. “We have a strong historical bond with the Americans. Thanks to them we live on a free continent.”
Why are Belgium’s frozen Russian assets significant?
A meeting with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen followed later. The US and Belgium are important trading partners. However, the conversation focused primarily on how Russia’s frozen assets could be used to finance Ukraine’s reconstruction. It has not escaped the notice of the Americans that Belgium has allocated the tax proceeds on the capital gains of the assets kept in Belgium (with Euroclear) to Ukraine.
What did De Croo emphasize about security and elections?
The Prime Minister firmly dismissed all questions about the timing of his visit to the US. “This visit is more timely than ever,” he emphasized. “The elections are coincidentally next Sunday. Our security is more important, it does not take elections into account. More than ever, we are being threatened with words and we must give the signal that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Americans against, for example, the threat that Vladimir Putin recently made. Putin does not take elections into account.”
