El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele responded with a pointed remark—“irony”—after Belgium’s Interior Minister, who had criticized his heavy-handed security strategy, proposed sending soldiers into the streets of Brussels to contain spiraling drug violence.

Brussels has been shaken by a wave of shootings linked to narcotics trafficking, with more than fifty incidents reported this year alone.

One minister acknowledged that dealers now operate so openly that it looks as if they are running outdoor cafés in broad daylight.

The threat has escalated to such a degree that the city’s top prosecutor is under police protection following intimidation from traffickers.

The Belgian government is now considering deploying the army to patrol hotspot areas, including metro stations and high-crime neighborhoods, in joint operations with police forces.

The plan underscores the gravity of the crisis, as leaders warn that decisive action is needed to prevent further civilian casualties.

The proposal has stirred debate within Belgium.

Some residents and officials view the move as a troubling step toward militarization, while others argue it is an unavoidable measure to restore security and public trust.

For Bukele, whose crackdown on gangs has dramatically reduced homicides in El Salvador but attracted criticism from European officials, the development highlights what he sees as stark hypocrisy in global debates over security policies.