EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations

📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by Sven Biscop EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations "Disgrace in Washington, Decisions in London" * Angry and ashamed. That’s how I felt after watching the spectacle of Trump and Vance ganging up on Zelensky, two against one, live on Television * My simple, but very consequential prudent assumption: as long as Putin is president, Trump will side with Russia; not with Europe, and certainly not with Ukraine * Now is not the time to gripe and moan about past mistakes of the West vis-à-vis Russia. We have certainly made mistakes, but Russia, and only Russia, chose to go to war * We have made the fundamental choice in 2022, when the EU invited Ukraine to join, and we must stick to that * In London European leaders proved to Trump that they can take decisions that will shape the eventual settlement of the war * We are at a moment in world history when everyone realises momentous decisions have to be made. A European leadership is emerging #Trump #Zelensky #Starmer #Geopolitics 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 👉 https://lnkd.in/eigG9ZK3

📣Welcome to Damien Couturier who recently joined EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations as Administrative and Logistics Assistant in the Admin & Finance Department. A much needed addition to our office! 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 👇 https://lnkd.in/eKGU3hzh

✉️ 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 #𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁! Read it and 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 to stay informed about EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations and EGMONT - Education & Training news, publications & events. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 👉 https://lnkd.in/ek7qMjNX

📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by Erik Kennes EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations “The “Tigres,” Katanga and the DRC War” * The “Tigres” became a symbol for Katangese independence, and anyone fighting for Katanga adopted their name even if no real ties existed. This created tensions with the DRC authorities from the Mobutu regime until today * On 24 January 2025, a group of Katangese “Tigres” were deported from Luanda to Kinshasa and handed over to the DRC military intelligence service DEMIAP. Nothing has been heard of them since * If many Katangese are sympathetic to the M23 it is because they want a regime change, not because they have a peculiar sympathy for AFC leader Nangaa * The Tshisekedi regime has spared no effort to intensify the antagonism between Kasai and Katangese communities, which is now an important political problem to resolve #Katanga #DRC 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 👉 https://lnkd.in/ekxBgsPG

📰 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗟𝗔 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗘 Analyse de Nina Wilén et Erik Kennes du Programme Afrique EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations dans Le Monde Diplomatique sur les ingérences meurtrières du Rwanda en RDC "L’émergence d’un pouvoir antioccidental en RDC n’est désormais pas à exclure, à l’image des changements politiques intervenus en Afrique de l’Ouest depuis 2021, nourrie par le ras-le-bol généralisé d’une guerre interminable et dévastatrice" #Rwanda #RDC #UnionAfricaine 𝗟𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗰𝗶 👉 https://lnkd.in/ejkBDZje

📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by Maria Gargano REWEU EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations "Belgium’s Take On EU Big Bang Enlargement: More Europeans Means More Europe"   * Belgium has consistently supported deeper EU integration, advocating for a strong and decisive European Commission, the use of qualified majority voting, and minimal emphasis on the method of calculating majorities in the Council * Belgium's approach to EU enlargement has always been to condition it on the deepening of the Union. This means strengthening EU institutions and policies before expanding membership. * The 2004 enlargement was seen as a historic milestone, marking the reunification of Europe and correcting past geopolitical mistakes, such as the division created by the Yalta Conference. * Belgian leaders viewed the 2004 enlargement as a moral obligation and a geopolitical necessity to promote stability, peace, and democracy in Europe, especially in the context of post-Cold War Europe and the Yugoslav wars. * While there were concerns about the economic impact of enlargement, Belgian leaders also highlighted the potential benefits, such as new markets, increased political stability, and legal safety for commercial activities and investments. * These ideas reflect Belgium's strategic, moral, and practical considerations in supporting the EU's enlargement while ensuring the Union's cohesion and effectiveness. #REWEU 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 👉 https://lnkd.in/dwjMV9aJ

Welcome to Hanaa El Hajji who recently joined EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations as Programme Assistant Read her bio here 👇 https://lnkd.in/e85f2eMK

In a world defined by competition, rivalry, and fragile partnerships, understanding the Grand Strategy of great powers is essential. But just as crucial is developing a Grand Strategy for the EU itself—one that ensures Europe stands as an equal pole in a multipolar world, safeguarding its democratic values, free markets, and way of life. Power cannot be divided—a true global player must wield political, economic, and military strength.

📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by Sven Biscop EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations "Trump’s Europe Policy: No Longer Different From Russia And China?" * We are in the realm of Grand Strategy. The essence of Grand Strategy is simple – we abandon Ukraine or we stand by it – but it is never easy * Now is the time for Europeans to take momentous decisions. The responsibility may seem overwhelming; but refusing to decide is even more risky * The US & Europe are allies, or that is what the Europeans still wish to believe. For US, the European allies deserve no special consideration. Everything is subject to the interests the US * Europe, in concertation with Ukraine, can create faits accomplis too and shape the negotiations, even if it does not sit at the table. Trump cannot negotiate away European sanctions against Russia * A European coalition can decide now that it will deploy an army corps in Ukraine to guarantee its security, whether Russia likes it or not * The European allies must now themselves acquire those capabilities that until now only the US contributed to NATO. The aim is a complete conventional force package * Whatever the US says today: if a European coalition guarantees the security of Ukraine, NATO will be involved, because those Europeans will be NATO allies * If a European coalition guarantees the security of Ukraine, major Chinese interests are at stake. Europe must make it clear to China that it is serious and will assume the risk of war to defend Ukraine  #EUGrandStrategy Read it here 👉 https://bit.ly/4gO1QOQ

Quoted alongside John Bolton, Dominique de Villepin and Sven Biscop in this article of The Christian Science Monitor on US-#European #security relations, from Dominique Soguel. (...) “Not only are the #Americans pushing for a ceasefire, but they are also pushing for a ceasefire without the inputs from European allies and #Ukraine, which indicates how little regards Washington has for its allies,” says Jean-Marc Rickli, head of global and emerging #risks at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. “For European security, that is one of the most important crises since the Second World #War.” A European-only security guarantee is possible, says Sven Biscop, director of the Europe in the World program at the EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels. But it would need to clearly signal to #Russia that war would be declared if it invades Ukraine a third time. “You make it credible by predeploying a sizable force behind the Ukrainians,” he says. “Fifty thousand troops: We can do that, but it will be a stretch in terms of available manpower that requires combat readiness.” European leaders in #Paris failed to agree on a response to the U.S.-Russia talks. That’s in keeping with questions of defense in Europe. As of now, #Germany, #Spain, #Italy, #Denmark, and #Poland are unwilling to send troops to #Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Only the U.K. signaled it is willing to do so provided there is a U.S. backstop. #France has not yet officially stated its position. “This lack of unity is clearly not the best way for the #Europeans to try to weigh on the negotiations between the U.S. and Russia starting today in Saudi Arabia,” says Dr. Rickli. “This conflict has turned into a power game. Unfortunately, the Europeans do not have enough power to weigh in.” NB: I wanted to add: ”Europeans do not have enough power to weigh in and they are not used to speak the language of power politics” but it was too long for the editor.