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.
Books
Opportunities for a Niche-Based Approach in Defense and Foreign Policy Edited by Edouard Xia, Marion Jacques, Julien Godfroid, Tanguy Struye de Swielande International relations are becoming increasingly tense as the global security environment deteriorates. […]
Commentaries
Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine has changed the European Union’s attitude towards the prospects of enlargement. While in previous years, European leaders remained skeptical about the EU’s absorption capacity and […]
The Fire, the Ice, and the Fog: A Sublimation of the Russian Threat Now in its fourth year, Russia’s war on Ukraine has become more than a battlefield confrontation. It […]
Commentaries
On October 9, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce sent shockwaves through global supply chains by announcing sweeping export control measures on rare earth elements (REEs), adding five new categories to […]
Commentaries
On 28 September 2025, Moldova, a former Soviet republic and EU candidate since 2022, held a parliamentary election that was more than a routine vote in Chisinau. The victory of […]
Books
Whether you’re negotiating a deal, giving a presentation, or conducting a challenging discussion, diplomatic skills are invaluable. Diplomats are skilled practitioners when it comes to negotiation, public speaking and debating. […]