Kubilius visit to Thales in Belgium cancelled after protest and security concerns
The European Commission rescheduled the meetings in Brussels after authorities said they could not guarantee safety at the Herstal site.
Quick Look
- EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius could not visit Thales in Herstal after a protest and security concerns.
- The Commission said the meeting was moved to its premises in Brussels.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The article concerns a planned visit by EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius to Thales facilities in Wallonia. The visit was disrupted by protests linked to opposition over military equipment transiting to Israel.
European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius could not attend an on-site visit to Thales in Herstal after a demonstration led to security concerns. The European Commission said the meeting was rescheduled and took place in its premises in Brussels instead.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said he was “outraged and ashamed” and called for a thorough investigation. He said he had been in contact with Interior Minister Bernard Quintin about the incident.
The demonstrators at the Herstal site were protesting the effectiveness of Wallonia’s ban on military equipment transiting to Israel, which has been in place since May 2024. According to Belgian news agency Belga, the ban followed reports that 70 tons of ammunition and explosives had passed through Liège Airport since the start of Israel’s retaliation in Gaza after the Oct. 7 attack.
The attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel, a large majority of them civilians, and 251 hostages were taken. The Israeli military offensive in Gaza that followed has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, displaced 90 percent of Gaza’s population and destroyed wide areas. A ceasefire brokered by President Donald Trump in October 2025 led to the release of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages.
Thales Group is a French aerospace and defense company. In 2024, it boosted laser-guided rocket production at its Herstal plant with support from the Walloon regional government.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Belgian authorities and the European Commission are likely to face further questions about security planning for high-profile defense-site visits.
Likely · Within days
The debate over Wallonia's ban on military equipment transiting to Israel is likely to continue.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- How many demonstrators were present at the site?
- What specific security concerns led authorities to cancel the on-site visit?
- Will Belgian authorities investigate the disruption?
- Will the protest affect future visits to defense facilities in the region?
