New strategic plan equips our FPS to face a rapidly changing world

Our FPS has developed a new long-term strategy to adapt to an unstable global context. A safe, just, and sustainable world, based on human rights and international rules, is more crucial than ever for the prosperity and security of our country.

Foreign affairs are becoming increasingly important for our prosperity, well-being, and security at a time when we are experiencing global instability. Traditional and emerging powers are vying for their share of the pie. Power politics is back at centre stage, including military power. This is also reflected in various hybrid actions such as cyberattacks and disinformation.

The international order as we have known it since WWII is being questioned. Think of human rights, the rule of law, free trade, and international cooperation. For an open country like Belgium, all these developments have a significant impact.

High adaptability and steadfast policy objectives

The FPS Foreign Affairs must carry out its core duties in an extremely volatile international context. That is precisely why we are more determined than ever to uphold our policy objectives. At the same time, we aim to hone our ability to adapt to rapidly changing developments.

In a newly developed strategic plan – for the period 2025–2029 and aligned with the current government’s term – our FPS reaffirms its mission. We want to contribute to ‘a safe, just, and sustainable world, based on shared values, human rights, and international rules.’

5 major priorities

The plan also sets out 5 major priorities:

• Contributing to the prosperity, stability, and security of our country, including through investment in both existing and new partnerships.
• Contributing to security, stability, and prosperity in the world, in areas where our country offers added value.
• Defending democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, as well as global governance based on an effective international legal order.
• Defending our economic interests and prosperity with respect for the Belgian institutions (communities and regions).
• Providing optimal consular services and assistance to Belgians abroad and to the foreign diplomatic corps in Belgium.

National security strategy

The new strategic plan is aligned with the national security strategy, which sets out six vital interests. These include the promotion of democratic principles, a well-functioning EU, climate challenges and environmental protection, and the physical safety of our population. The security strategy also provides an overarching framework for a whole-of-government approach – treating security as a core responsibility of all public authorities – and a whole-of-society approach – recognising that security goes beyond government, everyone has a role to play.

Given the rapidly changing world we live in, we are currently updating the security strategy in cooperation with the Prime Minister’s departments and in coordination with all relevant security actors at both federal and interfederal levels. This may have implications for our strategic plan.

Our FPS was also forced to make savings due to government measures: 1.8% per year on operating and personnel costs and 25% on international cooperation. We are doing everything we can to absorb the reduction in our budget without compromising the execution of our core missions or the functioning of our organisation. In this context, we will continue to optimise our network of embassies and consulates, as well as our operations and structure in Brussels.

Read all about the long-term strategy of our strategic plan 2025-2029.