Commentaries
For Better or For Worse
It took Belgium two world wars to understand that its international and territorial security could only be guaranteed through alliances and unions with like-minded nations. Since the end of the […]
Europe in the World
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.
Publications
External publications
Strategic Communication, a Key to The Success of The EU’s Global Gateway
In 2021, the European Union (EU) unveiled and commenced its flagship programme to partner with countries in its neighbourhood and around the world. The European Commission has “set out the […]
Commentaries
Mass Matters: Understanding Russia’s Military Conduct and the Threat it Poses
On February 17, 2024, Avdiivka, a key Ukrainian stronghold situated on the Eastern frontline in the Donetsk region, fell under the control of Russian armed forces. *****
A Safe and Sovereign Europe in a Changing Global Context
The Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations, with support of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium, has organised […]
Commentaries
If Russia “Protects” Transnistria, Will the EU Defend Moldova? And Georgia?
On 28 February 2024, the day before Putin’s annual speech in parliament, Transnistria asked Russia for protection against Moldova, the state from which the region has broken away. Fabricating a […]
China, the West, and the Rest: Who is Enjoying the Shadow of Whom?
On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Beijing announced that seasoned diplomat Wang Yi would return to his function as head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a post he had held […]