Maritime Security: Belgium’s interests and options
As a trading nation with a strong maritime tradition (half of its trade is seaborne), a self-styled champion of regional integration, a proponent of the rule of law, and a […]
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
Leaving the beaten track? The EU regulation on conflict minerals
Since the end of the 1990s, natural resources have gathered growing attention as part of efforts to resolve enduring armed conflict in Africa’s Great Lakes region. This policy brief discusses […]
Commentaries
Europe’s “Maginato” Complex
A lasting conversion of President Trump to NATO will be difficult to achieve – and it will not suffice to defend Europe’s interests.
Commentaries
The US and China between dependence and rivalry
One should not be surprised at the tensions between China and the US. An emerging power will always engender suspicion on the part of the existing superpower.
Commentaries
The Counterterrorism Yearbook 2017: Europe
2016 proved to be a busy year for CT in Europe as the number of jihadi-related attacks increased and the nature of the threat evolved, with most plots involving ‘home […]
Commentaries
Two-Speed Europe: Yes, But
Yes to a two-speed Europe if that is the only way to deepen integration, but this does entail some risks. A Dutch version of this article was published on the […]