The Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences, Ghent University and the Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations organise Power Profile: an annual international conference analysing the future orientation of the domestic development and the foreign policy and defence strategy of one of the states that determines the course of international politics. Every edition is co-organised with renowned partners from the country in question.

Power Profile 2025 will focus on the United States. The US undoubtedly remains the most powerful of the great powers: it has the largest economy and the largest military power projection capacity – but its political strategy has been shifting course. Relations with its long-standing allies in Europe and Asia have become more transactional, at times even antagonistic, and its investment in the rule-based order more selective. A keynote speaker will analyse American Grand Strategy, after which a panel will discuss its implications as well as its domestic sources. The aim: to understand where the US is going – for to no small extent that will shape where the world is going.

Programme

13.30–14.00 Welcome coffee

14.00–14.15 Word of welcome & Introduction

• Dr Philippe De Maeyer, Ghent University & Permanent Secretary of the RAOS
• Dr Sven Biscop, Egmont Institute, Ghent University & RAOS

14.15–15.00 Keynote Speech

• Dr Peter J. Dombrowski, US Naval War College

15.00– 16.45 Panel Discussion: Sources and Implications of US Grand Strategy

• Dr Eva Gross, European External Action Service (EEAS)
• Major General Remigijus Baltrenas, Director-General of the International Military Staff, NATO
• Dr Tanguy Struye de Swielande, Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve
• Dr Bart Kerremans, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

16.45–17.00 Closing Remarks

• US Ambassador to Belgium (invited)

17.00 Reception

Please note that registrations will not be handled via the Egmont website. Registrations are only done via email to the following address: contact@kaowarsom.be

Registration fees €20.

Free entry for members of RAOS, Egmont Institute, Belgian Foreign Affairs and embassies.

(Photo credit: Canva teams)