US Praises Belgium’s Counternarcotics Drive at Port of Antwerp-Bruges

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 7, 2026

The United States has praised Belgium’s intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking through the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, saying rising interdiction numbers reflect stronger enforcement and international cooperation rather than necessarily a worsening narcotics problem.

In a statement shared on X by Bill White, the US said Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s focus on counternarcotics since taking office had strengthened Belgium’s response to trafficking at the port and elsewhere.

“Rising interdiction numbers are not a sign of a growing problem — they are proof of growing capability, coordination, and courage on the part of Belgian authorities,” the statement said.

The US described its cooperation with Belgium as one of its most productive security partnerships, crediting Belgian law enforcement, customs and judicial authorities for disrupting trafficking networks.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has become a major focus of European efforts to intercept cocaine shipments entering the continent, given its role as one of Europe’s largest ports and its extensive connections to global trade routes.

Washington said every seizure represents an opportunity to disrupt criminal networks and prevent drugs from reaching communities, while pledging to deepen cooperation with Belgian authorities in the coming months.

The statement comes as Belgium has sought to strengthen the security of its ports in response to organised criminal groups involved in international drug trafficking. Antwerp's position as a major gateway into the European market has made port security an increasingly important issue for Belgian and international law-enforcement agencies.

The US said closer cooperation should ultimately make the port, as well as Belgium and the United States, “safer, stronger, and more prosperous together.”

Source: FSX Business News