A Belgian defense minister defended Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after Donald Trump publicly mocked her, urging Trump to stop attacking European leaders and warning that Europe still relies on the U.S. for security.

Theo Francken said Europe cannot afford to alienate Washington while it tries to strengthen its own defense capabilities, and he criticized the latest spat as unnecessary. In comments reported after Trump suggested—via a social media post—that he would need a “restraining order” against Meloni, Francken urged restraint and said European leaders must remain diplomatic with the Trump administration.

Francken specifically called Meloni “the queen” of Europe’s centre-right and “the alpha,” arguing she is a key figure in the continent’s conservative movement and should not be singled out. He also said Europe would need roughly five to 10 years to build enough conventional military capability to replace the protection it currently draws from the United States.

The flare-up follows Trump’s exchange with Meloni at the G7 summit in June, and Trump’s later claim that Meloni “begged” him for a photo—something Meloni denied. Francken said the fight over a photograph was hard to understand and urged both sides to de-escalate.