Abstract

Belgium is a small country but has dwindling influence on the international chessboard, with the notable exception of Central Africa and principally the Congo, where it has been able to retain an expertise and influence far above its real economic and geostrategic weight in the region. This paradox is not due to the defense of special interests or political power games, which had long since been abandoned by Belgian politicians. Rather, a voluntarist cooperation development policy allows Belgium to shine on the international arena and to maintain an enviable status across Central Africa. This text has first been published in English in the book Belgium in the UN Security Council : Reflections on the 2007-2008 Membership (Jan Wouters, Edith Drieskens and Sven Biscop eds., Intersentia, Antwerp, 2009, http://www.intersentia.com/searchDetail.aspx?bookId=101192).

Key words: Belgium, UN, United Nations, Security Council, Congo, DRC, Central Africa.