A diplomatic circle for strong alliances

In March 2025, our FPS launched the Sablon Diplomatic Circle. Through visits and conferences, it offers foreign diplomatic representatives in Brussels the opportunity to meet in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. In doing so, we create a positive image of Belgium.

Did you know that Belgium – especially Brussels – hosts the largest diplomatic community in the world? It is home to no fewer than 302 diplomatic missions, 132 international organisations, and around 25,000 foreign diplomats, along with just as many family members.

Breaking bubbles

Still, we notice that many diplomats tend to stay within their own bubbles: those of bilateral embassies, of United Nations institutions, of NATO… Or those of the EU, with separate bubbles for the European Parliament, the European Commission, and so on.

Of course, our colleagues maintain contacts with various foreign diplomats, but the potential of such a high concentration of diplomatic representatives could be harnessed much more. Especially in turbulent times with shifting global power dynamics, it is extremely valuable to maintain good relations with as many foreign representatives as possible – and to break out of bubbles.

Relaxed atmosphere

That is why our FPS decided in March 2025 to launch the Sablon Diplomatic Circle. The aim: to regularly organise activities for the heads of diplomatic missions in Belgium – ambassadors, permanent representatives, and so on – to get to know each other better in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. It is the first official diplomatic circle of its kind.

The two activities organised so far have shown that the formula works. Of the 70 members to date, each time 30 to 35 took part, including ambassadors from a wide range of countries such as Uruguay, Peru, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Qatar, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, France, Monaco, Croatia, Germany…

BBNJ-campaign

The very first activity was a visit to the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend, which conducts pioneering marine research. Our Special Envoy for Climate and Environment, Willem van de Voorde, accompanied the group. The visit also formed part of our campaign to bring the secretariat of the BBNJ treaty to Belgium. And that is an additional purpose of the Diplomatic Circle: its activities can help support our campaigns and messages.

A second activity took the Diplomatic Circle to UCB in Braine l'Alleud, one of the largest biopharmaceutical companies in Europe. The participants visited, among other things, a gene therapy facility, and a biotechnology factory.

Wide range of themes

The Diplomatic Circle aims to cover as wide a range of themes as possible. Future possibilities include defence and security, the Port of Antwerp and the petrochemical industry, tapestry restoration, the space industry, climate, classical music, or a conference on the state of our democracy… At times, a visit will be combined with a conference.

At the moment, the Diplomatic Circle is still very young, but its membership is steadily growing. Each activity offers an opportunity to attract more members. After all, we invite all diplomatic representatives each time, but those who want to participate are asked to become members.

Forging strong alliances is crucial in these turbulent times. And it is all the more valuable when this can be done in a relaxed, informal setting. At the same time, we are building a positive image of our country.