Brussels – A diplomatic dispute has erupted between the United States and Belgium after the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, publicly criticized Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke over the prosecution of three Jewish ritual circumcisers in Antwerp. The escalating tensions highlight differing views on religious freedom and national sovereignty.
Ambassador White launched a strong rebuke of Vandenbroucke on social media, accusing Belgium of antisemitism and calling for the case against the circumcisers to be dropped. “You must build a legal provision to allow Jewish religious mohels to perform their duties here in Belgium,” White wrote, according to reports from the Washington Examiner. “Belgium is a civilized country. Stop this unacceptable harassment of the Jewish community here in Antwerp and in Belgium.”
Vandenbroucke responded sharply, accusing the U.S. Government of launching an “ideological attack on our European social model, including our healthcare.” He made the comments during a press conference in Paris on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as reported by VRT News. The health minister acknowledged the United States invests more in research and development, but attributed this to higher profit margins for private intermediaries.
The dispute extends beyond healthcare, with Vandenbroucke warning that the European Union needs to stand firm against potential U.S. Trade policies. “The European Union is a protective shield against bilateral intimidation. We should make this much clearer to our citizens,” he stated. This comes after Ambassador White criticized Vandenbroucke and accused Belgium of antisemitism regarding the prosecution, as detailed in a report by Brussels Times.
The case involving the three Jewish ritual circumcisers in Antwerp remains a point of contention, raising questions about the balance between religious freedom and legal regulations. The exchange underscores growing transatlantic friction on issues of trade, healthcare and social policy.
