CSDS Brussels

The US-South Korea alliance is expanding its focus beyond the Korean Peninsula to include areas like high-tech security, supply chains and nuclear-submarine cooperation. Henry Haggard provides his analysis of the US-ROK alliance.

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csds.vub.be/publication/...

❗New Analysis❗

"Middle Powers Don't Have to Work Together to Get Ahead", by Ramón Pacheco Pardo and Robyn Klingler-Vidra in Foreign Policy.

Read
foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/03/u...

@foreignpolicy.com

This week, our Director, Luis Simòn, spoke at the Oslo Security Conference. He was on a panel about the US' Asia policy and its implications for Europe. He was joined on stage by Jo Inge Bekkevold, Øystein Tunsjø and Kaush Arha!

More info
www.oslosecurityconference.com/program/

❗New CSDS Policy Brief❗

"Allies in Transition: Recasting the United States – South Korea Alliance for a Competitive Era", by Henry Haggard.

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csds.vub.be/publication/...

This CSDS Policy Brief explores the fundamental trade-offs in implementing the European Economic Security Strategy, balancing market stability with rapid responses. Antonio Calcara and Floor Doppen analyse the challenges of securing Europe’s economy.

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csds.vub.be/publication/...

In @elpais.com, our KF-VUB Korea Chair, Ramón Pacheco Pardo, was interviewed about the #KPop Warriors and the Grammys and what this means for Korean cultural soft power.

Watch here (in Spanish)
elpais.com/videos/2026-...

Our Distinguished Professor, Michael Reiterer, was recently quoted in the Chilean press on Europe's partnerships with Asia, and he provided his expert thoughts on the EU-India partnership.

More info
digital.elmercurio.com/2026/02/02/A

In the Council of Geostrategy's recent "Big Ask", Professor Beatrice Heuser shares her thoughts on whether we are entering a new world of spheres of influence.

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www.britainsworld.org.uk/p/the-big-as... @congeostrategy.bsky.social

Last week, we were delighted to organise an event with ANU on "Preparedness, Resilience, Disinformation and Democracy", and we were pleased to welcome Duncan Lewis, Rory Medcalf, Caroline Millar and Tom Rogers for the debate!

More info
csds.vub.be/event/prepar...

This week, our #CODE team were at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam with partners ReGlobe and Platform War to co-organise a workshop on "Geopolitics, Governance and the Political Economy of Technological Transformation". It was a great chance to exchange ideas!

More info
csds.vub.be/event/tech-r...

"What happens in Venezuela will affect international relations beyond the Americas. For China, the lesson may be that the use of force is tolerated as long as the aggressor is sufficiently powerful."

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csds.vub.be/publication/...

🇪🇺🇮🇳

"In the context of a fragmenting international order, the European Union (EU) and India have entered a moment of exceptional strategic alignment", write Domenico Farinelli and Giulia Tercovich.

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csds.vub.be/publication/...

"Divergent national approaches to investment screening and export controls risk fragmenting the single market and weakening the EU’s collective leverage vis-à-vis major powers", argue Antonio Calcara and Floor Doppen.

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"US operations in Venezuela can have two contradictory effects on China’s policy in its maritime disputes: emboldening or deterrence", write Carolin Liss and Tongfi Kim.

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Yesterday, in Prague, Antonio Calcara joined a #CHIPDIPLO event on "Bridging the Gap: Central Europe’s Silicon Future". The event highlighted Central Europe’s growing importance in the global semiconductor value chain!

More info
www.institutmontaigne.org/en/publicati...

@acalcara.bsky.social

CSDS will be present at the EDA Annual Conference today! Daniel Fiott will be moderating a high-level panel on the EU's defence partnership with Ukraine. He will be joined by senior officials from the EU, NATO and the Ukrainian Government.

Info
annualconference.eda.europa.eu

#EDAConf #EUDefence

Yesterday, Daniel Fiott spoke at a luncheon debate on ReArm Europe 2030, organised by FTI Consulting. Daniel joined Ramūnas Stanionis, Marco Canton and Beatriz Cózar Murillo, PhD for the illuminating discussions!

This week, we were really delighted to welcome Tom Shugart to a CSDS Conversation for a discussion on the military balance along the First Island Chain. This was an in-depth reflection with great questions from the audience. Thanks for joining us, Tom!

More info
csds.vub.be/conversation...

"Intensifying geoeconomic competition may push European states to develop more flexible responses to emerging challenges derived from trade and foreign investment", write Antonio Calcara and Floor Doppen.

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csds.vub.be/publication/... @acalcara.bsky.social

Don't miss a thing! In a few moments, Prof Michael Reiterer will speak at an AIES conference entitled "Hotspot East Asia: Korea, Taiwan, South China Sea". A timely debate!

Watch it here
www.aies.at/news/en/even...

@aies.at

Today, the EU and India signed a new EU–India Security and Defence Partnership, paving the way for deeper cooperation. Domenico Farinelli and Giulia Tercovich look at the budding partnership, highlighting the strengths and challenges. A must-read!

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csds.vub.be/publication/... #IndiaEU

How can NATO enable European allies to assume far greater operational responsibility without undermining Alliance cohesion or the unique integrative role of US strategic leadership? Diego Ruiz Palmer and Luis Simón offer their thoughts.

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csds.vub.be/publication/...

❗New Project❗

We are delighted to announce that the FWO is supporting our latest research project on "The Weaponisation of Ideas: US-China Competition in the Symbolic Field". The project is led by Prof Caterina Carta. Let's go!

Learn more
csds.vub.be/project/the-... @fwovlaanderen.bsky.social

❗New Analysis❗

"European Defence Projects of Common Interest: From Concept to Practice"

By Steven Blockmans and Daniel Fiott, for the European Parliament

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csds.vub.be/publication/... @stevenblockmans.bsky.social @danielfiott.bsky.social @europarl.europa.eu

#EDPCIs

❗New Podcast❗

Join Lea Pavlovic and Daniel Fiott for reflections on the 2025 European Defence & Security Conference, as well as Europe’s role as a defence actor!

Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/6BdY...

Amazon Music:
music.amazon.es/podcasts/866...

Deezer:
www.deezer.com/en/show/1000...

❗New CSDS Policy Brief❗

"When Multilateralism Meets Multialignment: How Can the EU and India Partner in a Fragmenting Global Order?"

By Domenico Farinelli and Giulia Tercovich

Just in time for the 🇮🇳🇪🇺 Summit!

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csds.vub.be/publication/... @giuter.bsky.social

How can NATO enable European allies to assume far greater operational responsibility without undermining Alliance cohesion or the unique integrative role of US strategic leadership? Diego Ruiz Palmer and Luis Simón have some thoughts.

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csds.vub.be/publication/...

❗Get prepared for a more hostile world❗

Sign up today for our executive course, #Brussels360!

From 3-5 June 2026, you will be immersed in discussions and learning opportunities on Europe, geopolitics, defence, technology and trade with leading thinkers.

More details
csds.vub.be/executive-co...

❗New Research❗

"Institutional Foundations of Financial Statecraft: EU Assistance to Ukraine and Beyond"

By Lukas Spielberger and Moritz Rehm, in the Review of International Political Economy.

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csds.vub.be/publication/...

❗New CSDS Policy Brief❗

"Predictable or Flexible? How to Implement the European Economic Security Strategy"

By Antonio Calcara and Floor Doppen

Read
csds.vub.be/publication/...

@acalcara.bsky.social