Kristi Noem, the U.S. homeland security chief, arrived in Antwerp on Wednesday, September 10, to offer American assistance in tackling narco gangs, as Belgium faces a surge in drug-related violence.
The visit comes as Belgian authorities face increasing numbers of shootings and explosions tied to drug trafficking, particularly at the port of Antwerp—one of Europe’s main gateways for illicit drugs.
“Ports here, like this one, are a crime target for foreign terrorist organizations,” Noem said during a press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:
The U.S. understands that we need to be aggressive in fighting these organizations and we want to partner with you in an even greater way to do so into the future.
U.S. president Donald Trump has launched bold international actions targeting drug cartels, including labeling them as foreign terrorist organizations and striking suspected drug shipments.
Noem—previously described from within the U.S. Border Patrol as “an ally backing us up”—highlighted that the U.S. and Belgium will collaborate by exchanging security information and coordinating with shipping firms to combat trafficking. De Wever described the meeting as “a sign of appreciation for years of [his] global lobbying,” stressing the importance of both European coordination and transatlantic partnership to dismantle organized crime networks.
Belgium confiscated a record 121 metric tons of cocaine at the port of Antwerp in 2023, and Brussels has experienced approximately 60 drug-related shootings so far this year. Authorities are now contemplating deploying soldiers on the streets to help deter criminal activity.
After the press conference, Noem inspected Belgium’s new drug-scanning technology at the port and toured the area by helicopter with De Wever.
