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Peace and security in Belgian foreign policy – Key takeaways of our recent conference at the Federal Parliament 

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On October 20th, IPIS, in collaboration with Search for Common Ground, organized a conference at the Federal Parliament on peace and security in Belgian foreign policy. This conference brought together various voices to reflect on the role Belgium can play in a world marked by complex conflicts, as well as the importance of cooperation between the 3Ds: defense, diplomacy, and development. 

In her opening speech, Els Van Hoof, Chair of the Chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized the need to strengthen Belgium’s resilience and defense, while continuing to invest in soft power through the defense of human rights and democratic values. She called for a security approach based on society as a whole and on strong partnerships, stressing that security cannot be built alone and that investment at the European level must continue. 

IPIS’ Director Filip Reyniers, in turn, highlighted the profound changes on the international scene, with Western states gradually withdrawing from multilateral peace operations, the pressure on diplomacy, and a shift towards national interests. Reflecting on the maxim Si vis pacem, para bellum – “If you want peace, prepare for war” – he reminded the audience that avoiding war requires, above all, investing in peace. An approach focused solely on defense will not make the world a safer place. 

The first panel, “European security architecture: Beyond deterrence, detente? Belgium’s position 60 years after the Harmel doctrine,” brought together Steven Van Hecken, Professor of political sciences, Ambassador Ariadne Petridis, Permanent Representative of Belgium to NATO, and Annemarie Gielen, Action Officer for Conflict Regions at Pax Christi. While some defended a policy of détente towards Russia, others felt that this was not realistic in the short term, although desirable in the long term.

The need to communicate better with the public on the issue of the conflict in Ukraine was emphasized: it was considered a matter of defending the post-war liberal order. Nevertheless, a general consensus emerged that Belgian foreign policy should strike a balance between defending its values and adopting a more flexible and pragmatic approach in its relations with states whose position may differ. The discussion also highlighted the need for a more systemic analysis of global threats, including climate change and attacks on democracy and economic justice. 

The second panel, “What role for military action, diplomacy, development, and peace initiatives in Belgian foreign policy in conflict zones? ” brought together Heidy Rombouts, Director-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD), Martin Gourgue, Advisor on Defense Policy and Strategic Foresight Advisor at the Strategy Department of the Belgian Defense Staff, and Sophie Desmidt, Deputy Director of ECDPM.

Although the panelists emphasized different elements of the 3D approach, they all agreed that it remained at the heart of Belgian foreign policy, calling for enhanced coordination and a long-term vision: “Peace cannot be built in a single legislative term”. Discussions also focused on transactionality: while Belgium and the European Union must be transparent about their interests, they must avoid a purely transactional approach at the expense of human rights and democratic values.

In order to encourage collaboration, it was proposed to expand the “defense, diplomacy, and development” model to a 4th D – Dialogue, emphasizing cooperation beyond like-minded partners. The discussion suggested moving from bonding to bridging, building coalitions of the willing, and recognizing the diversity of local approaches. 

In conclusion, Hilde Deman, Director of Search for Common Ground, emphasized that security and defense must be considered as public goods, and reiterated that peace is not an agreement, but a process.  

This conference is the starting point for an essential debate that we wish to continue with policy makers, experts, and civil society.  

This event was organized with the financial support of the Belgian Development Cooperation.