Belgium Resists US Call for Congo Travel Restrictions Amid Ebola

WHO:

politico.eu - Belgian Minister Frank Vandenbroucke

AP News - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio

AP News - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

AP News - U.S. Ambassador Bill White

WHAT:

politico.eu - Belgium rejected a U.S. request for strict travel restrictions on Congolese travelers amid an Ebola outbreak.

AP News - The Trump administration urged European nations to enhance travel restrictions for individuals coming from Ebola-hit countries.

AP News - The U.S. has banned travelers who have been in affected countries in the previous three weeks from entering the United States.

AP News - The European Union announced an increase in Ebola response funding by 16.5 million euros ($19 million) on top of 15 million euros ($17.3 million) contributed the previous month.

AP News - The World Cup tournament is set to open on Thursday in Mexico and will last nearly six weeks.

WHERE:

politico.eu - Belgium

AP News - Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda

AP News - United States, Mexico, and Canada (World Cup locations)

AP News - Brussels to Kinshasa (flight route)

WHEN:

AP News - The World Cup tournament is scheduled to begin on Thursday.

WHY:

politico.eu - Vandenbroucke accused the Trump administration of undermining the international response to the Ebola outbreak, citing reduced U.S. development cooperation and medical aid.

AP News - The U.S. aims to protect the health of the American people and prevent the Ebola outbreak from reaching the U.S. shores.

HOW:

politico.eu - Belgium is focusing on screening and controls at departure points in affected countries and has prepared two hospitals for potential Ebola patients.

AP News - The U.S. has established quarantine procedures for affected American citizens returning from Ebola-hit areas.

(UPDATED June 10, 2026 17:58 UTC)

Belgium has rejected a U.S. request for strict travel restrictions on Congolese travelers amid an Ebola outbreak, with Belgian Minister Frank Vandenbroucke accusing the Trump administration of undermining the international response. In response to the outbreak, the U.S. has banned travelers from affected countries and is focusing on protecting American health, while the European Union has announced an increase in Ebola response funding by 16.5 million euros. Meanwhile, the World Cup tournament is set to kick off on Thursday in Mexico, lasting nearly six weeks, as the U.S. establishes quarantine procedures for affected citizens returning from Ebola-hit areas.