Masters of Grand Strategy
Grand strategy has principles that, when adhered to, will definitely benefit the state. In order to thrive, a grand strategy needs to be sustained by a strategic culture. A state’s […]
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
My Summer in Beijing
When I told people that I was planning to travel to China for the first time since the pandemic, many strongly warned me against it. Many European academics have become […]
Southeast Asia’s Hedging: A Strategic Opportunity for the European Union?
Southeast Asia is among the regions where the intensification of Sino-American rivalry is most felt. Notwithstanding attempts by both competitors, the regional states are not willing to take sides, adopting […]
Unlocking Global Gateway towards the Green Transition
In December 2021, the president of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen unveiled Global Gateway. With an investment package of 300 billion euros, compromising both public and private funds, […]
Upgrading the Belgian Contribution to NATO’s Collective Defence
Once again, collective defence constitutes the focal point of European security. This Egmont Policy Brief reviews the evolution of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, analyses the Belgian contribution to the […]
Strengthening multilateralism in a multipolar world: On the contribution of this year’s G7 and G20 Summits and suggested next steps for the EU
Many countries in the Global South have refrained from condemning the grave violation of international law that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine represents. They do not support Russia, China, or […]