U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the port of Antwerp on Wednesday to pledge American support in helping Belgium fight drug cartels and narcotics trafficking. The meeting came as Belgium faces a growing crisis with drug-related violence and record cocaine seizures at its major ports.
Noem met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever at the port, which has become one of Europe’s main entry points for illegal drugs. The two officials discussed ways to boost cooperation between their countries in the war against drug trafficking. Belgium seized a record 121 metric tons of cocaine at Antwerp in 2023, according to police statistics.
During her visit, Noem highlighted the global nature of the drug crisis. “There’s a plague of fentanyl traffic that is spreading around the world,” she said, according to Politico, adding that the U.S. wants to work with Europe to stop it. She switched out of her high heels to inspect Belgium’s new drug-scanning technology inside a shipping container before taking a helicopter tour of the port with De Wever.
Belgium seeks stronger international partnerships against drug violence
The visit reflects Belgium’s urgent need for international help in tackling organized crime. De Wever welcomed the U.S. assistance, saying his country has been lobbying globally for years to strengthen cooperation against drug cartels. “I think Europe should focus a lot more on European cooperation on one hand, and on cooperation with our friends in the United States in order to crush the business model of organized crime,” he said.
President Trump has made fighting drug cartels a key priority since taking office in January. His administration designated major cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and has taken military action against drug trafficking networks. The Trump administration’s aggressive approach includes targeting cartels operating in Mexico and other Latin American countries.
I am honored to represent the U.S. and President @realDonaldTrump at the Five Country Ministerial in London. Criminal cartels, child predators, drug traffickers, and human smugglers threaten every nation. Together, we are putting an end to this evil.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) September 8, 2025
We saw firsthand how drones,… pic.twitter.com/TEsOOm3MBa
Noem emphasized that the collaborative effort will involve sharing intelligence and security information between U.S. and Belgian agencies. “Ports here, like this one, are a crime target for foreign terrorist organizations,” she said. “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.”
Belgium has seen an alarming increase in drug-related violence, particularly in Brussels, which has recorded 57 shootings so far in 2025. The violence has prompted Belgian authorities to consider deploying soldiers alongside police to combat drug gangs. Brussels now ranks second in the European Union for homicide rates, largely due to drug trafficking conflicts.
The Antwerp port has overtaken Rotterdam as Europe’s busiest container port in the first quarter of 2025. However, this success has come with increased criminal activity as drug cartels target major shipping hubs to move their products into Europe. Belgian customs officials have struggled to keep pace with the sophisticated smuggling operations using the port’s massive shipping volume.
The meeting between Noem and De Wever represents a significant step in international cooperation against transnational crime. Both officials stressed that drug criminals operate without borders, making international partnerships essential for success. The U.S. has committed to sharing its experience and technology to help Belgium and other European allies combat the growing threat from organized crime networks. Recent violent incidents across Europe highlight the urgent need for coordinated international action against drug trafficking organizations.
