Commentaries
Trump’s Europe Policy: No longer Different from Russia and China?
The US and Europe are allies, or that is what the Europeans still wish to believe. That does not mean that they are not economic competitors at the same time, […]
Russia
Through its Focus on Russia, Egmont aims to establish an informal yet structured platform for regular exchanges among Belgian experts on Russia. The initiative addresses the full spectrum of political, economic, military, geopolitical, and societal dynamics in Russia. We convene a select group of experienced practitioners, analysts, and scholars with deep expertise on Russia in a series of closed-door meetings held approximately four times per year. Emphasis is placed on collegial dialogue, intellectual openness, and the rigorous exchange of perspectives. By combining longue durée analysis with real-time assessments, the initiative seeks to enhance policy-relevant reflection and strategic situational awareness for Belgian public institutions, in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The overarching objective is to create a trusted expert circle capable of generating nuanced, multidisciplinary insights into Russia as a strategic actor, while also contributing to a more coherent and informed Belgian and European approach.
Heads: Jan Balliauw and Dr Joris Van Bladel
Publications
Commentaries
The EU Ukraine Liberty Bond: Using the Whole of the €300 billion in Russian Assets in the EU Now
The EU has been debating how best to use the roughly €300 billion of Russian assets that are in EU jurisdictions to fund Ukraine-related expenditure. In the end, only the income […]
Commentaries
Shifting Shadows: A Closer Look at Putin’s Latest Government Reshuffle
On the night of Sunday, May 12, 2024, the political landscape in Russia underwent a remarkable shift as news broke of the replacement of the long-standing Minister of Defence, Sergei […]
Commentaries
Stalin’s Shadow: Putin’s Response to the Moscow Terrorist Atrocity
The reprehensible and abhorrent act of terrorists targeting innocent civilians deserves condemnation wherever it occurs in the world. This condemnation extends to the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in […]
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. *****
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 […]