In a world that is largely driven by competition and rivalry (and partnership, yet) between great powers, understanding the Grand Strategy of each of these powers is crucial. So is developing a Grand Strategy for the EU itself. An EU that acts as one, as one pole of the multipolar world on a par with the other powers, is the only way to safeguard the way of life that the Member States of the EU have chosen, based on democracy, the free market, and equality.
Power cannot be divided: a global player must have political, economic, as well as military power. To that end, the Europe in the World Programme analyses the diplomacy and defence of the US, China, and Russia, and of the EU, NATO, and their members. We also focus on geoeconomics, researching Open Strategic Autonomy and the Global Gateway as key EU instruments, as well as the geoeconomic approaches of the other powers.
Defence policy is our third main axis of research, with a particular focus on European defence and its interaction with NATO, but also on nuclear deterrence and the deterrence of hybrid threats. Throughout all three research axis, we devote special attention to the role of Belgium, including notably the development of its own National Security Strategy and diplomatic and military capabilities.
External publications
The NPT Review Conference in May 2026 promises to be a battle between competing narratives about the evolution of the global nuclear order. This CSDS In-Depth Paper provides observers and […]
In August 2025, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which have never established diplomatic relations, initialled a peace agreement at the White House. It was the most significant step towards normalising relations since […]
External publications
Russia’s hybrid war against Europe continues to expand, with drone sightings, cyber-attacks, airspace violations, disinformation campaigns, and sabotage operations steadily increasing across the continent. Rather than being a series of […]
Commentaries
Since the turn of the Millennium, the evolving geopolitical landscape and the multiplication of natural disasters related to climate change have had a dramatic impact on humanitarian crises and the […]
Commentaries
Ignoring inconvenient facts, such as the responsibility of the US and Israel for triggering the war in Iran on 28 February, has a significant impact on the role that Europe […]
Commentaries
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen surprised observers and member states alike (and, apparently, High Representative Kaja Kallas) with her January announcement that the EU would draft a new European […]